Daily Life in the Monastery
Daily Life in the Monastery The clapping of boards at 3:30AM wakes everyone up for morning ceremony, which takes place from 4-5AM. At four in the morning, the stars are still out and the world is...
View ArticleCeremonies: The Heartbeat of the Monastery
Ceremonies: The Heartbeat of the Monastery The ceremonies can be considered as the heartbeat of the monastery because they provide a structure and rhythm for daily life. They are also times when the...
View ArticleBasic Guidelines for Buddhist Practice
If you are interested in developing a Buddhist practice, here are some basic guidelines to help you get started. Reflect on your motivation. First and foremost, reflect on your aspirations for starting...
View ArticleBuddhism: A Brief Description
Buddhism: A Brief Description The basic purpose of Buddhism is to purify our mind of the “three poisons” of greed, hatred, and ignorance. This is much easier said than done. The focus of Buddhism has...
View ArticleThe Schools of Buddhist Practice
The Schools of Buddhist Practice an interview with Venerable Master Hsuan Hua conducted by Karl Ray, which originally appeared in the former Shambala Review under the title “Back to the Source” in...
View ArticleAssociation with the Wise
by Bhikkhu Bodhi Access to Insight © 1998 The Maha-mangala Sutta, the Great Discourse on Blessings, is one of the most popular Buddhist suttas, included in all the standard repertories of Pali...
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A Summary of the Five Precepts
The Five Precepts are basic ethical guidelines taught by the Buddha for lay practitioners. The precepts are: To refrain from killing. The central tenet of Buddhism is ahimsa, or non-harming, which...
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Mindful Awareness of Breathing Instructions
First sit in meditation posture, with your back erect. Do not lean against anything. You may sit with your rear-end on a pillow to better enable yourself to sit up straight. Ideally one should sit in...
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Introduction to Buddhism Suggested Reading List
Buddhism: A Concise Introduction By Huston Smith & Philip Novak (HarperCollins Publishers, 2004) This book is a great place to start studying Buddhism as it covers the Buddha’s life, the...
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Featured Blog Post: The Low Down on Bowing and Repentance Practice
From the DRBY Blog Reverend Heng Sure, Ph.D., of Berkeley Buddhist Monastery shares his insight on bowing and repentance practice from the Buddhist tradition. Since the third century CE to this day,...
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