What is enlightenment?

Enlightenment refers to liberation from suffering and the mental toxins or “defilements” that are its cause. It is the realization of the true nature of “the way things are”. An enlightened being understands the experiences Nibbana, the unconditioned reality that lies behind it. The Buddha referred to this state as the “supreme happiness”. The enlightened mind is characterized by wisdom, compassion and purity. The Buddha taught that all human beings, male and female, are born with the potential for enlightenment. The Buddha spoke of four stages of enlightenment, and thus four kinds of enlightened beings. The first of these beings […]

Who was the Buddha?

Some 2,600 years ago a child was born into the royal family of the Sakyan clan, a people living in a part of northeast India that now lies within the borders of Nepal. He was given the name of Siddhartha. At the age of 29, Prince Siddhartha renounced a life of ease and privilege to search for spiritual liberation. Six years later, after a momentous night of meditation sitting cross-legged under a Bodhi tree, he realized ‘the unexcelled complete awakening’. By doing so he became “the Buddha”, “the Awakened One”. Following his enlightenment, the Buddha devoted the remaining forty-five years […]

The Rabbit in the Moon

It took place in a world long long ago they say: a monkey, a rabbit, and a fox struck up a friendship, mornings frolicking field and hill evenings coming home to the forest, , living thus while the years went by, when Indra, sovereign of skies, hearing of this, curious to know if it as true, turned himself into an old man, tottering along, made his way to where they were. “you three,” he said, “are of separate species yet I’m told play together with a single heart. If what I’ve heard is true, pray save an old man who’s […]

Sufi Tale – Ant in the desert

  -Where are you going?- they asked to the ant -To the Kaa’ba- said the little insect -In that pace? – Yes, really. At this pace I wouldn’t arrive to the Kaa’ba, but I will die in my way to it. Sufi Tale Something similar could say any monk or nun about their ultimate aspirations. ~Ryokan

Nihon ryōiki, Volumen 1, Tale 35 (Japanese Buddhist Legend)

On a Nun Who Painted a Buddha Image out of Gratitude for the Four Kinds of Blessings and Gained a Power to Show an Extraordinary Sign “In a village of Yuge, Wakae district, Kawachi province, there lived a highly disciplined novice nun. Her name is unknown. She lived in a mountain temple at Heguri, and, organizing a devotees association, painted a Buddha image with a picture of the six existences in order to five thanks for the four kinds of blessings. When completed, it was enshrined in the temple after the dedication ceremony. Meanwhile she left the temple, going from […]

Nihon ryōiki, Volumen 1, Tale 7 (Japanese Buddhist Legend)

On paying for and Freeing Turtles and Being Rewarded Immediately and Saved by Them “Dhyana Master Gusai came from Paekche. When that country was invaded, an ancestor of the governor of Mitani district in Bingo province was put in charge of reinforcements and sent to Paekche. At that time the present governor’s ancestor vowed that he would build a temple to dedicate to the deities of heaven and earth if he came home safely. Eventually, he escaped harm. Thereupon, he invited Dhyana Master Gusai to return to Japan with him. Mitani-dera is the temple that was founded by this master, […]