WELCOME TO THE CHAPLAIN'S ZAFU
Peace, happiness, and joy be with you and all sentient beings....
'Be a Lamp Upon Yourself' Available Free
Through the kindness and generosity of the Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation in Taiwan, we have received several copies of the 'Be a Lamp Upon Yourself'. This pocket-sized book is a great Dharma treasure for you to take anywhere.
One of the most prolific books for those interested in Buddhism, with concepts for those beginning to explore Buddhism in plain everyday language.
We are making these books available to anyone who wishes to have a copy, we only ask for a small donation ($5) to cover postage, so that we can continue to obtain more copies for the benefit of our members and anyone who is interested in the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).
Included is a laminated bookmark of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, with the heart Surtra in Chinese on the Reverse.
Please make your request using the 'Contact Us' page on this website.
One of the most prolific books for those interested in Buddhism, with concepts for those beginning to explore Buddhism in plain everyday language.
We are making these books available to anyone who wishes to have a copy, we only ask for a small donation ($5) to cover postage, so that we can continue to obtain more copies for the benefit of our members and anyone who is interested in the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).
Included is a laminated bookmark of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, with the heart Surtra in Chinese on the Reverse.
Please make your request using the 'Contact Us' page on this website.
'The Teaching of the Buddha' Available Free
Through the kindness and generosity of the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism) we have received twenty copies of the 'The Teaching of the Buddha'.
If any of you have ever stayed in a Japanese hotel you will have seen this famous (orange covered) book.
We are making these handy pocket-sized books available to anyone who wishes to have a copy, we only ask for a small donation ($5) to cover postage, so that we can continue to obtain more copies for the benefit of our members and anyone who is interested in the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).
Please make your request using the 'Contact Us' page on this website.
If any of you have ever stayed in a Japanese hotel you will have seen this famous (orange covered) book.
We are making these handy pocket-sized books available to anyone who wishes to have a copy, we only ask for a small donation ($5) to cover postage, so that we can continue to obtain more copies for the benefit of our members and anyone who is interested in the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).
Please make your request using the 'Contact Us' page on this website.
The Buddhist Flag
The Buddhist flag, was first hoisted in 1885 in Sri Lanka. It is a symbol of faith and peace used throughout the world to represent the Buddhist faith. The six colours of the flag represent the colours of the aura that emanated from the body of the Buddha when He attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The horizontal stripes represent the races of the world living in harmony and the vertical stripes represent eternal world peace.
The colours symbolize the perfection of Buddhahood and the Dharma.
The Blue light that radiated from the Buddha's hair symbolizes the spirit of Universal Compassion for all beings.
The Yellow light that radiated from the Buddha's epidermis symbolizes the Middle Way which avoids all extremes and brings balance and liberation.
The Red light that radiated from the Buddha's flesh symbolizes the blessings that the practice of the Buddha's Teaching brings.
The White light that radiated from the Buddha's bones and teeth symbolizes the purity of the Buddha's Teaching and the liberation it brings.
The Orange light that radiated from the Buddha's palms, heels and lips symbolizes the unshakable Wisdom of the Buddha's Teaching.
The Combination Colour symbolizes the universality of the Truth of the Buddha's Teaching.
Therefore, the overall flag represents that regardless of race, nationality, division or colour, all sentient beings possess the potential of Buddhahood.
( Courtesy of Flags of the World, www.fotw.com )
The colours symbolize the perfection of Buddhahood and the Dharma.
The Blue light that radiated from the Buddha's hair symbolizes the spirit of Universal Compassion for all beings.
The Yellow light that radiated from the Buddha's epidermis symbolizes the Middle Way which avoids all extremes and brings balance and liberation.
The Red light that radiated from the Buddha's flesh symbolizes the blessings that the practice of the Buddha's Teaching brings.
The White light that radiated from the Buddha's bones and teeth symbolizes the purity of the Buddha's Teaching and the liberation it brings.
The Orange light that radiated from the Buddha's palms, heels and lips symbolizes the unshakable Wisdom of the Buddha's Teaching.
The Combination Colour symbolizes the universality of the Truth of the Buddha's Teaching.
Therefore, the overall flag represents that regardless of race, nationality, division or colour, all sentient beings possess the potential of Buddhahood.
( Courtesy of Flags of the World, www.fotw.com )
'If I ever escape this ocean of suffering, I vow to salvage all sentient beings to the other side of the shore!'
- Lord Buddha
Proposed American Buddhist Flag
There are numerous forms of symbolism in all religions, and Buddhism is no exception. There are several variations of the Buddhist flag depending on the country where one is located. This includes one in use in Thailand representing Theravada Buddhism. The Thai flag is saffron yellow with a red dharmachakra (Wheel of the Dharma) in the center.
Our Buddhist Chaplain, being an amateur Vexillogist (scholarly study of flags), recently took on the task of designing a Buddhist flag to represent American Buddhism. There has never been a unifying symbol that represented the many traditions of Buddhism in the United States.
'According to several studies, Buddhism was almost unknown to USA 150 years ago. One major event that helped Buddhism gain a breakthrough in the United States was Parliament of World Religions in Chicago held in 1893, a highly publicized Interfaith event attended by great Buddhist personalities of the world. Large scale Chinese immigrants in the 1850s and Japanese in the late 1880s, Koreans in around 1903 and Tibetans after 1970s began to arrive. Since then, it is estimated that well over a thousand Buddhists temples and practice centers have been established in the US. The first Buddhist temple in America was built in 1853 in San Francisco by the Sze Yap Company, a Chinese American fraternal society.' (Buddhism in the US Looking Through the Land of Buddha: by Kishore Sherchand)
Drawing inspiration from the numerous flags used to represent religious organizations and traditions worldwide, the new American Buddhist Flag is simple in design, and captures the modern nature of Buddhism in the West. The flag is designated as a civil flag for use in temples, homes, and other private locations throughout the country and beyond.
The five colours of the traditional Buddhist flag surround the flag represent all the Buddhism represents. The dark blue colour of the flag, adopted from one of the primary colours of the Flag of the United States, represents the nation where ancient traditions have been imported in the new American landscape. The gold Dharmachakra is representative of the Three Treasures and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism, with the center colours of the national flags of North America. In most Buddhist countries, the dharmachakra is always seen in gold.
Our Buddhist Chaplain, being an amateur Vexillogist (scholarly study of flags), recently took on the task of designing a Buddhist flag to represent American Buddhism. There has never been a unifying symbol that represented the many traditions of Buddhism in the United States.
'According to several studies, Buddhism was almost unknown to USA 150 years ago. One major event that helped Buddhism gain a breakthrough in the United States was Parliament of World Religions in Chicago held in 1893, a highly publicized Interfaith event attended by great Buddhist personalities of the world. Large scale Chinese immigrants in the 1850s and Japanese in the late 1880s, Koreans in around 1903 and Tibetans after 1970s began to arrive. Since then, it is estimated that well over a thousand Buddhists temples and practice centers have been established in the US. The first Buddhist temple in America was built in 1853 in San Francisco by the Sze Yap Company, a Chinese American fraternal society.' (Buddhism in the US Looking Through the Land of Buddha: by Kishore Sherchand)
Drawing inspiration from the numerous flags used to represent religious organizations and traditions worldwide, the new American Buddhist Flag is simple in design, and captures the modern nature of Buddhism in the West. The flag is designated as a civil flag for use in temples, homes, and other private locations throughout the country and beyond.
The five colours of the traditional Buddhist flag surround the flag represent all the Buddhism represents. The dark blue colour of the flag, adopted from one of the primary colours of the Flag of the United States, represents the nation where ancient traditions have been imported in the new American landscape. The gold Dharmachakra is representative of the Three Treasures and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism, with the center colours of the national flags of North America. In most Buddhist countries, the dharmachakra is always seen in gold.
Ten Ways of Maintaining a Good Practice
1: Consistency: A good strong practice is developed over a long period of time and we should understand this from the very beginning. We must be in it for the long haul and practice like we eat, everyday, and several times a day, even if some of the sessions are short. Just as we nourish the body best with rest, exercise; and nourishing food, our practice should be based on good teachings, authentic teachings.
2: Be patient with yourself and believe in yourself.
3: Discipline desires, but don't suppress them. A good practitioner is able to sublimate the energy of desire and direct it inward, and rest in the sense of fulfillment this brings.
4: Keep the body light and pliant, diet disciplined, and sleep not too much nor too little.
5: Choose a practice that suits your temperament and stay with it. Since the fault usually lies in the application, always look to improve how you practice and don't worry so much about which technique is best.
6: Keep your life as simple as possible, with the fewest distractions.
7: Cultivate friendships with others who are better than you or your equal.
8: Seek out a good teacher and put his advice into practice. Rely on instructions from authentic Sutra texts when no teacher is available.
9: Put aside all thoughts about progress and just work hard. You'll know when you get there.
10: Be sincere. More than anything else, being sincere will assure your success.
(Courtesy of www.buddhadharma.com)
A Sign of the Future
Has the question FINALLY been answered?
Is Spock a Buddhist?
This image has been circulating around the internet for a while. It is the logo for an Asian restaurant in Ecuador.
Makes you think... Zen?
( Someone suggested we use it as the 'official' image of Lord Buddha for Dharma Trek, but I don't think Mr. Nimoy would approve.
Thought hysterical, I'm sure -- but not approve ... )
Is Spock a Buddhist?
This image has been circulating around the internet for a while. It is the logo for an Asian restaurant in Ecuador.
Makes you think... Zen?
( Someone suggested we use it as the 'official' image of Lord Buddha for Dharma Trek, but I don't think Mr. Nimoy would approve.
Thought hysterical, I'm sure -- but not approve ... )