People practicing Buddhism believe that one’s soul goes through a continuous process of reincarnation into the world of misery or our universe until it has become thoroughly cleansed. The highest goal of all Buddhists is to reach Nirvana. For a devotee, this is the only way to flee from the cycle of rebirth. And in contrast to Western beliefs (which consider heaven or hell as a person’s final destination), Nirvana is the state where the spirit is freed from worldly things.

To achieve Nirvana, a person must be purely and morally righteous in thoughts, words and actions. He must also make the conscious effort to detach himself from the covetous and greedy world. Day by day, with his unshakable devotion, his knowledge grows, which is crucial as he continues his journey to reach Nirvana.

While Nirvana is considered as the state of pure bliss, Buddhists still believe that faith in a higher being (like Buddha) can provide them with the ultimate gift of freeing oneself from suffering. Buddhism states that Buddha is capable of creating a place of bliss for his followers in the afterlife. Hence, dying is just another phase to reach the sacred place.

Buddhist followers get themselves ready for their inevitable death, and they do this by living responsibly and positively. The Buddhist perspective on death may lead those outside the faith to believe that sorrow is rare or less in Buddhist traditions, and that mourning is not necessary. However, sorrow is a universal emotion, and no one is excused with such emotion particularly when a loved one is not around anymore.

Like with other religions, a Buddhist funeral is carefully arranged when a follower dies. This will guarantee the departed a pleasant and safe journey to the afterlife. Bereaved people wear dark shade casuals. They combine it with a traditional white headband or armband.

Buddhist funeral services may last for 45-75 minutes, and the friends and family of the deceased could also bring flowers and fruits as offerings. Although Buddhists recognize that death is not an end but a shift from one form to another, it is normal to express sorrow and grief for the loss of a loved one.

People in different countries hold their funeral for the departed in different ways, based on their faith and traditions. For Buddhist followers, a Buddhist funeral is meant to ensure the departed a safe journey in the afterlife. (7292)

Tags: Buddha, buddhism, Death, Funeral Services, Funerals, Nirvana

The Buddha this is commonly thought of as “happy Buddha” or “laughing Buddha” is actually a Zen monk who walked the lands of China more than a thousand years ago. He has become an important part of Buddhist history, and his name was actually Hotei (Ho Tai). Known as a generous soul, he was viewed as a bodhisattva, an enlightened creature who reached Buddhahood.

Many thought he was a Maitreya, a Buddha who will arrive someday in the future. His rotundness and jolly demeanor have earned him the names “laughing Buddha” and “happy Buddha.”

It’s quite common to find Happy Buddha statues in temples, businesses and restaurants as he is a deity that represents prosperity and wealth. Careful examination will often reveal a sack on the back of a Hotei statue. Legend has it this was filled with candy for children or rice plants symbolizing the “wealth of food.” His sack also represents the “suffering of the world” which he carries with him. Similar to the Catholic St. Nicholas, Hotei is the patron saint of the weak, downtrodden and children.

A laughing Buddha statue usually shows a chubby, bald man with a large potbelly pushing out of his flowing robes. His girth symbolizes good fortune and plenitude and his smile reflects optimism in the face of adversity. Most happy Buddha statues will have him carrying a crooked walking stick, his sack of goodies slung over his back.

The laughing Buddha is most often depicted in statuary in either a sitting, standing or in a reclining position. The reclining position most likely was born from the “sleeping Buddha position,” which depicted the Buddha’s last moments on earth before he ascended to Nirvana. Most often the laughing Buddha statue is displayed in the home as a symbol and talisman of good fortune and prosperity. Many happy Buddha statues show the jolly patron holding gold ingots in his hands were sitting atop a mountain of gold coins. It’s also not unusual to see the Buddha sitting atop a Dragon throne. The Dragon is a symbol of security and power in Asian cultures.

The laughing Buddha is sometimes seen wearing or holding a rosary, a symbol of prayer or a begging bowl indicating a life led without worldly possessions. He may be seen clutching an oogi, a Chinese fan believed to possess wish-giving properties and a symbol of Hotei’s ability to deliver good fortune.

Westerners often refer to the laughing Buddha as the “fat Buddha.” In truth, he is very similar to what Westerners think of Santa Claus. Both are generous, rotund gift givers who are thought to bring good cheer.

Rub the belly of a laughing Buddha if you wish to summon good fortune and prosperity. A common superstition of the Asian culture. Ho Tai is also a patron to those in the food service industry, especially bartenders. When someone overindulges, the indiscretion is often attributed to the laughing Buddha, Ho Tai.

Find Asian decor that brings both beauty and meaning to your home. A Laughing Buddha statue is the perfect symbol of prosperity for any home or business.

Tags: anthropology, asian culture, Buddha, buddhism, feng shui, History, meditation, news and society, religion, sociology, spirituality

What is Zen Buddhism? The Japanese name for Chinese “Chan” (for “to think”) Buddhism, Zen or Chan Buddhism is best illustrated, not described, and among the very best of illustrations is one of the most well-liked of Zen koans, a word that’s loosely translated as “teaching parable.”

A Zen Master was relaxing with two disciplines one day by having cake and tea. Suddenly he took his fan and threw it at one of them, asking, “What’s this?” The disciple caught the fan and started fanning himself, whereupon the Master exclaimed, “Good! Good!” He took another fan and threw it at the second disciple with the same question. This second disciple also caught the fan, but used it as an eating utensil with which to serve the Master some cake. The Master clapped, “Good! Good!”

And that’s the essence of Zen Buddhism. Yes, that.

What does it mean?

An explanation would actually rob you of the full power of the koan. If you don’t “get” the koan, it is best to keep thinking about it until finally you do. Any further discussion would be most meaningful once you’ve discovered the meaning for yourself. Or put it this way: Which would you rather have, porn or sex?

Sure, porn is very easily obtainable, whereas sex takes work (not only performing it but wooing the lady in the first place!), but one is no doubt a really pale reflection of the other. Likewise, “giving away the answer” will be like explaining a joke; even when you finally understand, that “zzzzt!” feeling is lost forever.

But rest assured that the koan presented above is one of the best illustrations of what Zen Buddhism is all about, since it illustrates Zen on so many levels. It is at once non-sensical and eminently brilliant. It’s funny and quirky and even puzzling but entirely logical and in fact easy to understand.

It is Zen. It is life.

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Tags: ancient greece, belief, Buddha, buddhism, Buddhist, hellenistic world, philosophers, religion, school of buddhism, zen buddhism

Religions in the world are many. We have the Religion in Myanmar, Christianity, Muslim, Buddhism etc. Sometimes it’s hard to know whose telling the truth, or what their real purpose is.

We are at a stage where we’re tired of having people telling us what we should believe in. We’re disappointed by all the hypocrites out there that don’t even know how to set a good example.

The situation gets so bad that our trust in religion is just so thin. We don’t know who or what to believe.

I’ve come to a point in my life where all I really say about religion is LEARN more about their standards. Don’t put your faith in those who say their keeping the ways.

It’s impossible to really know the true story, doctrine from the words of a human being. Everyone puts a part of themselves into their testimony after all.

Even though many religions out there claim to have the one and only “god” or the only powerful “gods” I’ve come to realize that most preach one thing.

They all believe firmly in Justice. And to be honest this is not such a bad thing to believe in. I no longer ignore all religion that is thrown at me.

I try and take from the situation everything that I can. Because although I probably will never be converted, I will probably leave knowing something that I didn’t know before.

And isn’t knowledge everything? Wouldn’t we simply be a routine without knowledge?

Everything that you see now, that you are now, that you have now… is this really it? I know for a fact that almost everyone has asked themselves this question at one point in their life.

So therefore I am of the idea that we should always seek to improve our knowledge, to explore, to be open, and not shun or judge a group by its religion. Simply because we’ve never heard of it doesn’t mean they don’t have something good to offer.

There are so many religions to pick from and learn from, which one to start with? Well, there is Catholicism- did you know that the Virgin Mary had more sons than just Jesus? Or even the religion of Myanmar for example… have you even heard of it before? Lean, live, embrace, and die happy. Die with knowledge!

Want to learn more about religions? Visit Myanmar, also be sure to visit Religion Videos for your needs.

Tags: Buddha, buddhism, Meditations in Myanmar, Religion in Myanmar