Robert asks…
Siddhartha Gautama, aka the Buddha!
Linda asks…
There is the story about the 500 Buddhist monks who went to meditate in the jungle, but their meditations kept being disturbed by lower realm creatures - monkeys and so on. When they asked Buddha what to do, Buddha asked them to chant Karaniya Metta Sutta, a mantra on practicing loving kindness. They returned to the jungle, did what Buddha recommended them to do, and the forest spirits repented and paid their highest respects to the monks.
The Buddha knew that the Sutta/Mantra, itself, was not important, but the most important thing is the mantra's meaning and the purpose of it. Going back to the story, it was not the Sutta that made the spirits repent and pay their highest respects to the monks, but the loving kindness the monks developed that did...
So, if a Buddhist prefers to chant, it is better if they focus more on the meaning and the purpose of the chanting (normally to expand loving kindness to other beings). But if they don't want to chant, they may also do another practice that creates the same effects/results as chanting.
Steven asks…
Is that true?
Dear Friend,
Perhaps. There are "energies" are all around us, so whatever you say or write, they are seeing, watching and affecting you.
It is said that by chanting the chant: Sree Gurudev Datta, your ancestors will get relief from the pain they are enduring, if they are not in heaven, so I guess it is possible that "souls" will come, especially to listen, when one chants...
Nancy asks…
What it means, which branch of Buddism it's from, how to say it, what language it is in, etc.
You're probably thinking of the phrase, "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" (this is pronounced just like it appears).
This phrase, or mantra, is used by the Nichiren schools of Japanese Buddhism as part of their primary method of formal practice. Followers of these schools repeat this phrase, over and over again, as a mantra.
The phrase is in the Chinese language, as pronounced by Japanese speakers. It means "Devotion to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra" (sometimes it is translated using slightly different words, but the meaning is always the same).
The Lotus Sutra is a Mahayana Buddhist text that was written in Sanskrit sometime around 100 CE. Although the text claims to represent the highest teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, it was written about 500 years after the Buddha's death and is unlikely to contain any of the Buddha's actual teaching words. This is not to say that the Lotus Sutra lacks validity as a spiritual document... You must read, experience and see for yourself...
Nichiren Buddhism, which arose from the Tiantai/Tendai (Chinese/Japanese) school of Buddhism, claims that the Lotus Sutra is the supreme text of Buddhism and that the entire meaning of the Lotus Sutra is contained in the phrase "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo."
Needless to say, this claim is not accepted by most other Buddhist traditions. This does not mean, however, that Nichiren Buddhist practice does not lead to enlightenment. It does, and that's the only point of Buddhism.
Chris asks…
Mantra recitation is used in the Mahayana Buddhist traditions (and not in the Theravada traditions).
Each mantra (and there are hundreds) has a particular energetic quality. A skilled teacher will sometimes match a mantra to a student, taking into account the particular functioning of that student's mind.
For this reason, it's probably not wise to simply use just any mantra.
However, you can safely and effectively use the name of the Bodhisattva of Compassion as a mantra. This mantra can awaken a practitioner's inherent compassion and also stabilize the mind so that equanimity can appear.
Just repeat silently to yourself: Guanyin Pusa, Guanyin Pusa, Guanyin Pusa
You can repeat these words very quickly and silently. When your mind drifts away into thoughts, gently return to the mantra.
The words mean: guan = perceive, yin = sound, pusa = bodhisattava
When you repeat these words you are literally calling upon yourself to become a bodhisattva by perceiving the cries of suffering throughout the universe.
Ask, seek, listen and other mantras will come to your attention, if needed. Best wishes on your path!
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The Pi You is a unique feng shui item that originated from Ancient China. It is said it is an item that gives security and protection to the person who owns it. The oriental world suggests that it can be a very useful item.
As a matter of fact a lot of employees, household owners and even businessmen are known to own one in their homes and offices.
The Pi You is regarded to be a major Chinese Feng shui emblem when it comes to helping people to protect their houses and business from danger.
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If you are thinking on buying one of these lucky charms, you surely won’t have a difficult time searching for them because they’re available in most feng shui shops.
Legends say that the Pi You was sent down from heaven to give mankind protection from all the evil elements and bad entities here on earth. These elements can bring misfortune, bad luck and even demise to the human race.
According to the Ancient Chinese folklore, Tai Sui or more commonly referred to as the Grand Duke Jupiter is the one who is accountable for all the threat and imbalance. The Pi You is heaven’s helping hand to stop him from being victorious.
A Pi You can be a very helpful feng shui item for those who have just transferred to a new residence or the people who lives in a house that has a strong presence of bad energy. This also applies to places that are under the influence of negative energy because the Pi You forbids this type of energy to cause harm to you and your family. It can also put a stop to the problems that it may bring.
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The Pi You figurine should be placed in the area that is near your main entrance. This is because it gives the Pi You complete control on the energy that comes in and out of the house.
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The Pi You is an outstanding feng shui charm that will keep you secured wherever you go. If your job constantly exposes you to danger or life-threatening events getting one would be a very good decision.
Throughout the earlier times, people mainly made use of their instincts as well as their psychic skills in order to determine the world and exist in a way that they'll bring in good energy at all times. Nonetheless, it has become a totally distinct situation nowadays, specially that we now reside in such a materialistic world where scientific technologies and breakthroughs rule our way of life. Even though these things help to make the existence of human beings incredibly easier and bearable, they've also unfortunately, made a barrier between us and a thing called spirituality. With this kind of blockade limiting our thoughts and hearts, we're then limited by whats we can only sense and so, stop us from attaining spiritual development.
Shield From Lure And Undesirable Energies
Actually, it's very important that we are able to attain spiritual development in our lives, especially on the planet that we reside in. Basically, it can be our strategy in shielding us from the lure and unfavorable energies that the modern life presents to us. With a developed spirituality within us, it can consequently be a lot easier for us to ignore materialistic dreams and wishes as well as challenges coming from the active and stressful demands of the world. What is more, when we have ultimately attained a developed spirituality, it only means that we have freed ourselves from turning out to be victims of the negative energies that surround us. In other words, we can always do something to safeguard ourselves from things that can harm us; not just to our physical bodies but also our mindset and stability as well. One of these things is participating in yoga teacher training. This can help us how to properly take care of ourselves to achieve wellness.
Auras Emanating From Inside Ourselves
All of us have an inner spirituality and energy that usually emanate from the body. This is exactly what lots of people call our aura. Generally, our aura comprises of the things which the body contains including our physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual being. A person having a lively aura may simply imply that he is pleased with all the beings existing inside him. And when an individual emanates a bad aura, it signifies exactly the opposite. However, auras are not only emanated but can also be shared with another person. This implies that if a person exudes a bad aura in him, he can definitely influence other's aura into being in exactly the same state.
Negative Thoughts Making It Even worse For People
Moreover, it is true that our world these days is filled with such negative auras and unhealthy lure. Many people are deprived of spiritual development simply because they are distracted by the numerous materialistic things that they believe are essential to live. And what is more, rather than making people satisfied and happy with their lives, these materialistic stuff only make it worse for them. And so what goes on is that they are ushered into desiring much more making them more focused on materialism instead of on building their own spirituality. Evidently, as long as a person doesn't recognize that having a completely developed spirituality is necessary, he can certainly not be satisfied and pleased with his life.
Consequently, as soon as you feel unsatisfied about yourself, you must instantly fight that weeknesses to be attracted to all the negative energies around you. Such a condition is very tough to handle particularly if you don't want to open your mind and heart to creating your very own spiritual development. The one thing is for sure, for as long as you stay in a detrimental state, you will certainly end up being geared towards getting engaged in poor and bad routines as well as experiences. To prevent this from happening, some people also incorporate yoga while in the process of spiritual development.
