Search found 46 matches

by Devotionary
Sun Feb 23, 2014 3:16 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Bodhisattvas/ Buddhas Statues and Etiquette
Replies: 5
Views: 1975

Re: Bodhisattvas/ Buddhas Statues and Etiquette

What if, in case of a studio apartment, there is no distinction between rooms--ie, it's just one, big, empty space? Would it be acceptable to have the altar behind a screen, or in a closet-type structure that can be closed off for when we are not in practice?
by Devotionary
Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:24 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: filling a statue?
Replies: 37
Views: 14589

Re: filling a statue?

Thanks all for your answers! Slightly off-topic but... the whole concept of unclean or unsavoury spirits coming in to occupy Buddha statues really discourages me. It's like... If I can't keep/maintain/house a statue right, then I might as well NOT do it at all. But then again, I guess it's intention...
by Devotionary
Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:44 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: filling a statue?
Replies: 37
Views: 14589

Re: filling a statue?

i have another question for this thread... I recently came across Chinese-style Buddha statues (that is, carved from a single piece of wood with no empty hollows in it.) Can a Tibetan Lama still bless or consecrate it? Or am I better off asking a Taoist or Feng-Shui master to do it? (A lot of Taoist...
by Devotionary
Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:51 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Neck Beads
Replies: 14
Views: 5697

Re: Neck Beads

Mostly men wear these. Having volunteered at a monastery, I;ve mostly seen these big beads worn by worker monks (of course, not the 108-strand which spans the whole body, but an 18 or 27 bead strand long enough to wear over the head but short enough that it can be stuffed into deep pockets.) These a...
by Devotionary
Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:45 pm
Forum: Alternative Health
Topic: Prostrations - Muscle Groups
Replies: 36
Views: 36618

Re: Prostrations - Muscle Groups

Adding another question... How many calories would prostrations burn? Say, doing 50-100 In the span of an hour?
by Devotionary
Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:58 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?
Replies: 14
Views: 7861

Re: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?

I ask this question about Yidams because I have been trying out different meditative and devotional practices. I've been mostly trained in Chan/Chinese Buddhism, and the Dharma Masters at the temple, while teaching mainly Zen, also encourage mantra recitation (in particular, Medicine Buddha, Cundi B...
by Devotionary
Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:42 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?
Replies: 14
Views: 7861

Re: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?

Thanks Shifu. (I dont know how to formally address Tibetan monastics... Since most of the tibetan monastics I know speak a bit of Chinese, I always refer to them as Shifu anyway. So... sorry :p) Is Yidam practice considered a life-long commitment, or something to complete as a next step to something...
by Devotionary
Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:08 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?
Replies: 14
Views: 7861

Re: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?

Thank you all for the responses! Another question: how different is Yidam practice with, say, performing normal devotions or Sadhanas? Or is a Sadhana = Yidam practice? If I attend a Chenzrezig Sadhana one day, then a Medicine Buddha Sadhana the next, does that mean that both of them are my Yidams? ...
by Devotionary
Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:28 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?
Replies: 14
Views: 7861

Yidams: What are they, how does one get one?

Good day all. Can anyone please elaborate on the role--and necessity--of having a Yidam (Meditational Deity)? Does doing a deity-centered practice bring more benefits than other types of practice? Or, is it just for a very special few who get a Yidam? Finally, can Buddhists of non-Tibetan schools (C...
by Devotionary
Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:07 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Monastics & their family
Replies: 42
Views: 11595

Re: Monastics & their family

but, i still think your criticism toward modern Taiwanese monasteries is too excessive. in fact, being organized into institutes maybe the only solution to spread dharma in a large scale. I think past models of having a lot of autonomous temples worked well enough. They didn't have the same access ...
by Devotionary
Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:19 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Monastics & their family
Replies: 42
Views: 11595

Re: Monastics & their family

Yes I think that according to secular laws the choice to ordain is an individual right, but according to the Buddhist vinaya the consent of one's parents is required in they are still living. It is just very puzzling to me that it seems many Taiwanese parents would not want their children to ordain...
by Devotionary
Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:05 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Monastics & their family
Replies: 42
Views: 11595

Re: Monastics & their family

So, from my experience, I really cannot say that there is any kind of extreme attitude towards renunciation and secular families, and one may want to get a broader picture before coming to conclusions. In one temple in Taiwan (not FGS or Dharma Drum, but another large one) when the master ordained ...
by Devotionary
Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:59 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Monastics & their family
Replies: 42
Views: 11595

Re: Monastics & their family

This attitude has always puzzled me. I remember a family of 4 children that used to attend a Chinese temple I was involved with. They were very devout, and the mother forced the children to participate in many of the temple activities and rituals. However when one daughter in a family of 3 girls an...
by Devotionary
Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:07 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: the Four Mountains (Big Monasteries) of Taiwan
Replies: 30
Views: 8001

Re: the Four Mountains (Big Monasteries) of Taiwan

You mentioned: "Come to think of it, I've never actually read or heard of a Taiwanese Buddhist author or master criticizing the Catholic Church or even directly calling them externalists. Like I said, they advertise their meetings like it was some great exchange of minds. I don't think the Daoi...
by Devotionary
Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:39 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: the Four Mountains (Big Monasteries) of Taiwan
Replies: 30
Views: 8001

Re: the Four Mountains (Big Monasteries) of Taiwan

if one wanted to know what Chinese Busshiam is, then Foguangshan would be the best choice. their linage came from Lin ji Chan tradition(Rinzai Japan, lIm je, Korea, lam the, Vietnam), but since Chinese Lin ji sect had evolved to hybrid of pure land and zen practice after Song dynasty, so main pract...
by Devotionary
Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:31 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Why are the candidates weeping during the ordination?
Replies: 21
Views: 6997

Re: Why are the candidates weeping during the ordination?

In traditional Chinese folk belief, if a religious text or song moves you inexplicably, they say you vowed to practice that faith in a previous lifetime; hearing it for the first time in this lifetime stirs up your past vows. Your subconscious suddenly "remembers" your previous commitment....
by Devotionary
Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:29 pm
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: the Four Mountains (Big Monasteries) of Taiwan
Replies: 30
Views: 8001

Re: the Four Mountains (Big Monasteries) of Taiwan

I have been a disciple of Chung Tai for over 6, 7 years now, and I can say, it's been helpful to me. I took refuge with Master Wei Chueh, and am glad I did. Ven. Wei Chueh is also an heir to the Lin-ji (Rinzai) lineage, and there is no conflict with Fo Guang; it seems that Vens. Wei Chueh and Hsing ...
by Devotionary
Sat Dec 08, 2012 4:38 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Does Zen even have monasteries!
Replies: 11
Views: 3814

Re: Does Zen even have monasteries!

Chung Tai Chan, one of Taiwan's Four Heavenly Kings (a name given to institutions pioneering different forms of Buddhism), is a relatively traditional Zen/Chan monastery, with branches all over the US and Australia. Please take a look at this link: http://www.ctworld.org/english-96/html/a8branches.h...
by Devotionary
Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:21 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Cundi Practice
Replies: 12
Views: 11531

Re: Cundi Practice

Cundi Dharani is a full esoteric practice and even involves Mudras, mantras, visualization etc. Nan Huai Chin has written about the full Cundi Dharani Sadhana here http://www.meditationexpert.com/meditation-techniques/m_buddhist_zhunti_meditation_opens_your_heart_chakra_for_enlightenment.htm" ...
by Devotionary
Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:10 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Incense Offering Mantra
Replies: 23
Views: 10305

Re: Incense Offering Mantra

My reasoning is more based on the mudras that followed, as I noted in my previous post. Also, althought not completely relevant, I'd just like to point out that in the past, the incense offering prayer and mantra were exclusive to the evening service and the tea offering verse was used in the morni...

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