Meditation is a rigorous spiritual discipline and a key part of Buddhist practice
Samatha is a way of mental training that concentrates the mind (Samadhi)
Vipassana is a way of wisdom that develops insight or wisdom (prajna)
Metta bhavana aids the practice of loving-kindness, including metta, karuna, mudita, upeksha
Zazen meditation combines samatha and vipassana, emphasizing loving-kindness, compassion, and sympathetic joy
Chanting is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words, sought and the relentless seeking itself
Dhammapada 2: "Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a calm, bright heart, then happiness follows you like a shadow"
Chanting is used by Theravada Buddhists to chant the names of the three jewels, reminding them of the origins of their traditions and beliefs
Puja involves making offerings, offering food, drumming, and meditation
Buddharupas are statues of the Buddha used to aid concentration and meditations
Different Buddharupa positions (hands) called mudras have symbolic meanings and reinforce community
Dana is the act of giving food or other necessities to monks
Buddhist places of worship include Vihara and Stupa, representing the path to enlightenment
Mantras are collections of words or syllables that are repeated as a form of Buddhist practice
Offerings to Buddha create good karmic energy and are given to the monks
Malas (prayer beads) with 108 beads represent 108 worldly desires to overcome
Mani wheels are devices for spreading spiritual blessings, with mantras wound around them
Buddhists make offerings to Buddha to create good karmic energy
Buddhists chant mantras like Om Mani Padme Hum and Namo Buddhay o for blessings and homage to Buddha
Pure Land Buddhists chant the name of Bodhisattva Amitabha for meditation and reaching the Pure Land
Mahayana Buddhists and Nichiren Buddhism chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, a Japanese name for the Lotus Sutra
Buddhists chant mantras and make offerings to create good karmic energy
In single-celled organisms, substances can easily enter the cell due to a short distance, while in multicellular organisms, the distance is larger because of a higher surface area to volume ratio
Multicellular organisms require specialised exchange surfaces for efficient gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen due to their higher surface area to volume ratio
Puja translates as devotion or worship in Buddhism
Puja involves emotionally engaging with the Dhamma, indicating the rejection of ego and the acceptance of another
Some Buddhists worship Buddha, showing respect and devotion, while most do not
Origins of Puja in the Vihara:
All face the same way
Chanting in unison
Sat on the floor in prayer position
Monks in robes at the front
In Puja, practitioners may set up a Buddharupa, make offerings, light candles, and recite mantras like "om mani padme hum"
Mangala Sutta is a discourse of Buddha on blessings, containing 38 blessings
Puja aims to engage with the Buddhist vision and can have various purposes such as meditation, healing, karma purification, and merit accumulation
A traditional Buddhist ritual is the cake offering (Torma), which takes hours to prepare and includes ingredients like flour, milk, butter, sugar, honey, and molasses
Bodhi tree is often found in Buddhist temples or shrines, symbolizing the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment
In Theravada Buddhism, funerals are seen as an opportunity to reflect and show respect for Buddhist principles
In Tibetan Buddhism, sky burial involves feeding the body to vultures as a final act of generosity and detachment from one's body
Wesak is a Buddhist festival usually celebrated in May or early June on the full moon to commemorate Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death
Vassa, also known as the Rain Retreat, is a 3-month period where monks retreat to monasteries for serious meditation and pay special attention to following the precepts
Sangha Kamma is a ceremony in Buddhism where monks nominate who receives cloth offerings, supporting their path to enlightenment
Lama Tsongkhapa Day is a Tibetan festival celebrating the life and teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa
Parinirvana is the celebration of the Buddha's final passing (death) in Buddhism, representing the hope of all Buddhists