1. Happy baby elephant

    Comment

    A baby elephant is called a calf. It weighs about 250 pounds at birth and stands about three feet tall. They can’t see very well at first, but they can recognize their mothers by touch, scent, and sound. Baby elephants stay very close to their mothers for the first couple of months. They drink their mother’s milk for about 2 years, sometimes longer. They drink up to 3 gallons of milk a day. At about four months old, they also begin eating some plants, but still need as much milk from their mother. ~Beverly Hernandez, Homeschooling Expert

  2. Never forgotten

    Comment

    Love is a promise,
    love is a souvenir,
    once given never forgotten,
    never let it disappear.

    ~John Lennon

  3. Mommy cat and baby ducklings

    Comment

    A baby duck is called a duckling, and an adult male is a drake. An adult female duck is called a hen or a duck, and a group of ducks can be called a raft, team or paddling. Ducks are precocial, which means that ducklings are covered with down and able to walk and leave the nest just a few hours after hatching. A hen will lead her ducklings up to a half mile or more over land after hatching in order to find a suitable water source for swimming and feeding. Male ducks have an eclipse plumage similar to females that they wear after the breeding season for about a month as their new feathers grow. During that month, they are completely flightless and more vulnerable to predators. Source: Birding

  4. Live in a more peaceful state of mind

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    Letting go helps us to to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance.
    It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations
    that do not belong to us. This frees us from unnecessary stress. ~Melody Beattie

    Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

    Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

  5. Training the Mind: Verse 5 & 6

    Comment

    When others, out of jealousy
    Treat me wrongly with abuse, slander, and scorn,
    May I take upon myself the defeat
    And offer to others the victory.

    springflowers071615

    by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

    The point that is made here is that when others provoke you, perhaps for no reason or unjustly, instead of reacting in a negative way, as a true practitioner of altruism you should be able to be tolerant towards them. You should remain unperturbed by such treatment. In the next verse we learn that not only should we be tolerant of such people, but in fact we should view them as our spiritual teachers. It reads:

    When someone whom I have helped,
    Or in whom I have placed great hopes,
    Mistreats me in extremely hurtful ways,
    May I regard him still as my precious teacher.

    In Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, there is an extensive discussion of how we can develop this kind of attitude, and how we can actually learn to see those who perpetrate harm on us as objects of spiritual learning. And also, in the third chapter of Chandrakirti’s Entry to the Middle Way, there are profoundly inspiring and effective teachings on the cultivation of patience and tolerance.

    Link source

     

  6. Mindful awareness and love

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    It only take a few minutes of meditation to directly realize we are a river of sensations, feelings, thoughts, perceptions. How can we navigate this evanescent river of life wisely? With mindful awareness and love it becomes clear. You can fight against the river of change, or use its wisdom to teach you how to graciously move and create and flow with the full measure of joy and sorrow, gain and loss, praise and blame that make up every human incarnation. ~Jack Kornfield

    Moth and Wasp. Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

    Moth and Wasp. Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

     

  7. Accepting what is true

    Comment

    We can struggle with what is. We can judge and blame others or ourselves.
    Or we can accept what cannot be changed. Peace comes from an honorable
    and open heart accepting what is true. Do we want to remain stuck?
    Or to release the fearful sense of self and rest kindly where we are?

    ~Jack Kornfield

    sea071615

  8. Training the Mind: Verse 4

    Comment

    When I see beings of unpleasant character
    Oppressed by strong negativity and suffering,
    May I hold them dear-for they are rare to find-
    As if I have discovered a jewel treasure!

    runningwater071915

    by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

    This verse refers to the special case of relating to people who are socially marginalized, perhaps because of their behavior, their appearance, their destitution, or on account of some illness. Whoever practices bodhichitta must take special care of these people, as if on meeting them, you have found a real treasure. Instead of feeling repulsed, a true practitioner of these altruistic principles should engage and take on the challenge of relating. In fact, the way we interact with people of this kind could give a great impetus to our spiritual practice.

    In this context, I would like to point out the great example set by many Christian brothers and sisters who engage in the humanitarian and caring professions especially directed to marginalized members of society. One such example in our times was the late Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to caring for the destitute. She exemplified the ideal that is described in this verse.

    It is on account of this important point that when I meet members of Buddhist centers in various parts of the world, I often point out to them that it is not sufficient for a Buddhist center simply to have programs of teaching or meditation. There are, of course, very impressive Buddhist centers, and some retreat centers, where the Western monks have been trained so well that they are capable pf playing the clarinet in the traditional Tibetan way! But I also emphasize to them the need to bring the social and caring dimension into their program of activities, so that the principles presented in the Buddhist teachings can make a contribution to society.

    I am glad to say that I’ve heard that some Buddhist centers are beginning to apply Buddhist principles socially. For example, I believe that in Australia there are Buddhist centers which are establishing hospices and helping dying people, and caring for patients with Aids. I have also heard of Buddhist centers involved in some form of spiritual education in prisons, where they give talks and offer counselling. I think these are great examples. It is of course deeply unfortunate when such people, particularly prisoners, feel rejected by society. Not only is it deeply painful for them, but also from a broader point of view, it is a loss for society. We are not providing the opportunity for these people to make a constructive social contribution when they actually have the potential to do so. I therefore think it is important for society as a whole not to reject such individuals, but to embrace them and acknowledge the potential contribution they can make. In this way they will feel they have a place in society, and will begin to think that they might perhaps have something to offer.

    Link source

     

  9. Only that you love

    Comment

    It matters not
    Who you love
    Where you love
    Why you love
    When you love
    Or how you love
    It matters only that you love.

    ~John Lennon

  10. Follow the three Rs

    Comment

    Respect for self,
    Respect for others,
    and Responsibility
    for all your actions.

    ~Dalai Lama

Live & Die for Buddhism

candle

Me & Grandma

My Reflection

This site is a tribute to Buddhism. Buddhism has given me a tremendous inspiration to be who and where I am today. Although I came to America at a very young age, however, I never once forget who I am and where I came from. One thing I know for sure is I was born as a Buddhist, live as a Buddhist and will leave this earth as a Buddhist. I do not believe in superstition. I only believe in karma.

A Handful of Leaves

A Handful of Leaves

Tipitaka: The pali canon (Readings in Theravada Buddhism). A vast body of literature in English translation the texts add up to several thousand printed pages. Most -- but not all -- of the Canon has already been published in English over the years. Although only a small fraction of these texts are available here at Access to Insight, this collection can nonetheless be a very good place to start.

Major Differences

Major Differences in Buddhism

Major Differences in Buddhism: There is no almighty God in Buddhism. There is no one to hand out rewards or punishments on a supposedly Judgement Day ...read more

Problems we face today

jendhamuni pink scarfnature

Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected...

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