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| Greetings Poetry Recipes Erle Stanley Gardner Shrine Metta Shinto Buddha The Path | Amida Kannon Protection Wisdom Odaimoku Small Road OM 
O house-builder, |
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 "Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them." 
all the beings in the ten quarters who, with sincerity of heart hold faith and wish to be born in my country, ( 3. The PureLand called Sukhavati, just one of many Buddha Lands.) repeating my name perhaps ten times, are not so born, may I not achieve the highest enlightenment."
The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra
- The Sutra on the Buddha of Eternal Life:
A Translation containing the
forty eight vows. 
Sutra on the Contemplation of Buddha Amitayus
- The Contemplation Sutra:
A Translation helping one to become
familiar with the Pure Land of Amida
Buddha. 
The Smaller Sukhavativyuha Sutra
- The Contemplation Sutra:
A Translation teaching the practice of repeating
the name or saying Amida Buddha's Mantra
in a personal committed practice with the
goal of rebirth in the Pure Land of Sukhavati
and approaching Buddhahood as a final goal.
Mandalas offered with permission and in memory of the White Path Temple e-group Sutra introductions from the 1978 edition: Shinshu Seiten Numbered areas added only to clarify for those new to Buddhism - a.a. for more information try the book:"The Three Pure Land Sutras" ISBN: 1-886439-01-X Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research Sukhavati | Illustrated Pure Land Scriptures | Land of Bliss
  I have always liked stories in the form of pictures and apparently others have too in the past as is evident in the use of these "Mandalas" or "Offerings" that were met to be points of focus, while contemplating life and practice. These Mandalas are not just pictures of a story, but offerings to us. These Mandalas offer a clue as to what we are searching for, especially for those of us, who are on a personal "spiritual" journey. It's not often that someone makes an "offer" to another that does not contain a "catch"; no catch here intended. Only that you get "hooked-up" to the life-ring, thrown to you in this ocean of birth, life and death, that will pull you on to the other shore - the other side of your search and finding your truths and answers. The question is what are you searching for? Many can't answer and many don't even know and move through life wondering what does it all mean? Why does life seem to work or "happen" this way? I started to ask these questions after a few life "experiences" left me with alot of questions about why things happen? It is not unusual to ask the "powers-that-be", why, if you play the game of life by the rules, why is it that people still suffer? It is taught to us by religions, sects of religions and secular society, that if you are doing what you are supposed to do, then you will avoid suffering. And it is assumed that if you are breaking all the rules, whether moral rules, a god's rules, or society's rules then you will pay the price with having all sorts of suffering coming your way. But when I saw people around me suffering, who were trying to be "good". And I saw children suffering from diseases or other sufferings like abandonment and abuse; don't we as adults assume children are good to begin with? And when I was told in response to my questions of why the rules and promises to the "good" were broken; that it was the mystery of a god's will and the answer will come in the "by-and-by"; this answer did not answer the why of suffering. The by-and-by meaning at my death when the mystery of life would be revealed to me; I felt this was alittle late to solve the problems of suffering that were happening now; and I felt able to handle some answers, since I was asking and wanting to approach the problems of suffering. When it came home to me and family through all sorts of twists and turns in life; I had to have a serious answer and the religions of the "area" were not giving the answers. There were no answers; just wait and see and bear all in "Faith". I had done this "faithfully" with no resolution to the problems or productive ways of dealing with the future suffering of my self and those around me. I had no answers and I knew they were out there; somewhere; otherwise I would not be having this "natural" inclination to be asking my questions about suffering and life. So in my attempt to tell you about the "answers" I found so far and how it is working for me; that is the reason for this part of this page. I want it to be like finding a jewel or get the response "Yes, that is what I suspected all along". Any way I will keep it simple and not be acting religiously narrow, because it is not a religious answer I have found. The essence of what I found are located in the Mandalas I shared above and within the many links placed here upon these few pages; once the information is sorted out and applied on an every day personal level - to see if it is a truth you can work with too, in life and its challenges. I hope what you find here can become "workable" answers for you. The first answer is that every one here that we see around us; the people, the animals, and all other beings are the same; all trapped in this cycle of suffering. People worry about poverty, natural disasters, diseases, loneliness, cruelty and war. Animals face starvation, abuse, being hunted by each other, disease and isolation. But we all see this as 'normal'; something to be avoided and worked at to not have happen. But when it does happen we say it is the will of a god or that is was that person's fault it happened; both of these notions just excuses; to make us feel better and hopefully keep these sufferings away from our door in the future. But our hard work, or religious attitudes, salvations we collected and rituals, or our luck or our separation from "others" --- don't keep this suffering away. And the other interesting facet of suffering is that the opposite of happiness or too much of a good thing is suffering too. Have you ever noticed when you get too much of what you have wanted you suffer? Like too much sun, you get sun burnt and too much pizza you get indigestion and a fat waist? Sex with too many people gets you diseases, unwanted pregnancies and emotional strain? Too much dieting gets you poor health and too much money gets you too many responsibilities? Amazing how on the flip side of happiness there can be so much suffering. So without even worrying about any rules or doing immorality; suffering is a natural out come of living this life of birth, life and death. Its a fact that every being "born" will suffering in "life" and then "die"; it is unavoidable. Also nothing is permanent; this is good in some ways and suffering in others; impermanence brings to us separation from what we are familiar with and from what makes us happy. Happiness then is no different from suffering; because happiness and suffering can not be separated from one another; but we see them as separate and cause ourselves more suffering because of the duality we live within. So the question can be now: "Is suffering a normal part of who we are?" The answer is no. Since we are asking and naturally are surprised when suffering comes our way or we see others suffering; then of course there has to have been a time when there was no suffering. And happiness was as it should be a joy. And there was no bottom-line to suffer. There was a balance between everything and no separation between anything. Since we naturally 'are' at odds with this thing called suffering. So we must identify what is this suffering? How does it effect us and what do we hope to do in life? First suffering is found in the form of hatred. We all understand what hatred is; from the smallest hurt to the biggest holocaust; so I don't need to explain that. Then the next is the "poison" of attachment. We become "inappropriately" attached to so many things. Family, things, goals, money, beliefs and even an image of ourselves and within all of these attachments is found the opposite of happiness, which is suffering. With this attachment is the feeling that there is never enough of anything and the desire is formed to gain more or get more of what we think will make us happy. So something needs to be done with shaping these desires and attachments in a way to work for us, instead of against us as they naturally do in the life-cycle of birth, life and death. The last category or poison of suffering is our delusions; the way we view the world around us and others around us. We easily see others and the world physically separate from us and we act accordingly to either control or possess what is separate from our "self". Delusions are ignorance in that we don't know what suffering is and what it's origins are and we act out our lives within this reassuring ignorance. Like we run the rat race and look toward having the best at any cost and we don't realize what we are really doing and why? But some people are not at the place to answer these questions or would rather not. But the suffering that comes because of this ignorance is not apparent to all of them and their "religion" or priorities; these delusions mask reality and these people continue on in life and suffering. When we start to question why things happen and what can be done about it we are offered alot of answers to placate us by society and religion, these answers are met to bring us back into line and to stop us from questioning this system of birth, life and death; as presented by religious traditions and secular institutions. Now what we have been talking about is the origin of suffering. Notice, suffering, has so far nothing to do with being "good" people. That is why it is so pervasive and respects no person or being. Suffering is every where. Now the next question is: "How do we do something about it?" The "how" is in the way we change our minds, about how we view things or what is called turning the mind. We want to find our original self, our reality, our union or nonduality, our original face and a way of looking at where we are and what we are doing. Again we are not talking about breaking rules or keeping a set of rules, but we will notice here that these three poisons [hatred, attachment and ignorance] or markers of the origin of suffering, have alot to do with what is called "cause and effect". If there is a cause then there is an effect. And we see that every day. If we are self centered then we create certain causes or negativities that contribute to a condition called negative karma or a "habit" of doing negative things, then we create certain "negative" results. If we view things a certain way we create the causes to form those certain effects or out come. And the natural out come is suffering when used as the "means" for living life these "the three poisons" and not finding the reality that is here within us, awaiting to be unveiled. What we have been discussing here is written down ( "The Four Noble Truths" and "The Eightfold Path" ) by a man who lived in the past and had the best life in the world, he was a prince (not a god) and he because of his compassion for others, saw the suffering in the world he could do nothing about. And the suffering that could come upon him and his family as well, like the results of birth - being disease, aging and then death. He wanted to know what to do about these and that there must be an answer to the origins of suffering. This man is the historical Buddha Shakyamuni and you can read about the results he found, as to what to do about what is happening around us in this world we live in. He did not "preach" a religion, but taught a valid and workable Path to how to get out of this "cause and effect"; this birth, life and death cycle. He did not say believe in me or a god sent me to tell you to shape up. He said look at my findings to meet the challenges in life and if they don't work for you in your present situation, then don't use them. He was not a religious man; but he taught discipline and precepts to "practice" life within; in order to show compassion toward others around us, as a practice of life and ultimately join him in a practice of the finding of themselves and reality, as he had accomplished himself. He set forth, an amazing 84,000 ways, to find liberation from suffering, to match the needs of every being. So there is not one set way of practicing, what he found out. And the way to get started is to be searching for the answers and know that suffering is not a punishment or natural state; but can be remedied with the right turning of the mind back to your original self. All along my personal journey, I found that I was not searching for a god, or forgiveness for the condition I found my self and others in or even union with a separate being greater than my self that I could give my self to and solve all of these problems in the sweet by-and-by. I was looking for "me". And at the same time, I found out who I was not. Once I started unveiling myself completely, I will not see any difference or duality between sadness and joy or man and woman or suffering and happiness; because once I unveil everything by practicing the Path that is before me of my life, these extremes will not matter and therefore the origins of sufferings will have no hold over nor have a reality in my life. I will be free, liberated and enlightened.Not that I won't care about life or be disconnected from it, but instead I will be able to embrace and enjoy life as reality and not a delusional system of random thoughts, or feelings or beliefs. Enlightenment is a big fancy word for strange junk from somewhere out there: at least that is what some would say. But in reality, enlightenment is within us awaiting to be seen and used. Enlightenment is not "out-there" and unnatural or foreign; it is within in all of us and all beings. It is no big deal; but it is everything. It is the "Yes, I've got it now and understand what to do about that", type thing. Enlightenment is not just an Asian thing or a New Age thing; it is a Living Being born in this World thing. So from what I have found of Buddha's teachings, in it's many forms, are not a "religion", but a way to live life. A practice of life beyond what I see or feel and beyond the conventional reality. A way to deal with the "why" things happen and to know why things don't happen; with no guilt involved; but only the "dusting my self off", when I stumble or meet a challenge and moving ahead. There is no "sin condition" keeping us from our goal of liberation; the only thing keeping us here practicing "suffering" is the perception - the baggage - we insist on carrying with us as we our practice life; turning our mind away from this practice or "habit" is a path and away out of the practice of suffering we are so good at doing. The point of this Mandala section is not to teach any one how to become a Buddhist or be a Buddhist or Hindu or anything else. You can do these mantras and practices within any religion you happen to be within. There is no belief in a god within Buddhism or vows to a separate being to rescue a person from themselves. It is not hard to become a Buddhist though; just do your path, learn, find a reliable teacher and just do - live your practice. There's really no set way to become a Buddhist. And you don't have to be of a particular ethnic persuasion; Buddhists come in all shapes, colors and sizes. There is only Refuge in the teachings of Buddha and the use of the teachings and teachers we meet, who help us out in life and the moving ahead in your quest or journey applying these new ideas and habits upon the challenges of life. So I have placed above, in the Mandala section, "one" of the 84,000 Paths taught by the Buddha for people to use to turn the mind. It is not some big commitment to have to do something to yourself or to others or to avoid doing a certain something. There is no guilt in not doing it and no sense of making it if you do alittle more than average. But only the mind set of doing a practice that turns the mind and a certain Refuge and an approach to life to deal with the origins of suffering. So take a look at it and see what you think. Check out the Internet on words you find in these texts or thoughts you find here. You are not asked to reject a god or take on a new one. You are only shown a new way to view life and your self, within the 84,000 Paths of the teachings of Buddha to finding your answers within these approaches. But all of it is so much more and it is as much as you can handle, because Buddha said the complete instructions as to finding your liberation is found completely within each teaching and practice; like the practice discussed above in the Mandala section. The Path, I happened to present here is from Pure Land Buddhism with its origins in China, Japan and Korea. There are approaches that work as well from Teachers within Tibetan Buddhism and Theravadan Buddhism and even Hindu traditions; again more Paths to help all beings within. Even where you are at, as to religion or lifestyle, is a practice and a path to liberation; but unless it is answering your questions it may not be the most "effective" one for you at this time. So it is a personal decision and a personal search and you are well on your way if you are searching and asking questions. Peace - fellow traveler - cultivate a limitless heart: Above, below, & all around, unobstructed, without hostility or hate. Sutta Nipata I, 8 
"The True Teaching, Practice and Realization of the Pure Land Way: The White Path" By Shinran "Maha-Mangala Sutta": The Highest Protection "The Cobra and the Usefulness of Conventional Wisdom on the Path" "The Metta Sutta" - The Buddha's Teaching on Loving-Kindness "Nichiren Shonin, Odaimoku and Gohonzon": history, reasons for and benefit of practice "The Path of Purification" - the path of Small Road    The Lotus Sutra On-Line
 BuddhaNet.net
Virtual Shrine
Back to Mandala
 The Ten-Recitation Method
- A web page presenting Amitabha Buddha,
and the practice of reciting or chanting to
your self the name of Amitabha Buddha.
Reminding your self of the Vows of this
Buddha toward all beings. Pure Land Buddhism. Amitabha
- The largest school of Buddhism in East Asia, but one that has received little attention up to now in the West. Practice and text information available for an effective practice focused on Amitabha Buddha. Pure Land Buddhism. Malas
- The use of Malas for Meditation and Chanting. The History of Malas and other counting devices for personal practice work. Guide to Tibetan Buddhism
- A comprehensive site for Practice by a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner. Site includes Texts, Teachers, Motivational Practice and Meditational information. A nice place to start an investigation and study of Buddhism. Pema Chodron: Practice Teachings
- A Tibetan Buddhism Tradition teaching web site by Pema Chodron.
Giving instructions on the Practices of Tonglen, Lojong, Bodhicitta, Meditation
and a nice section on "questions and answers". How to practice Zen Zazen or Sitting
- A nice place to go to download
a booklet with clear instruction on
sitting or meditation. Also in this
Pure Land Buddhism site within
the download booklet is how to
make your own cushion. This
site is out of Japan in english. Introduction to Buddhism
- A Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism Tradition site.
Introducing a person to Practices and Refuge,
within Buddhism. A nice page to get a handle
on the "How To of Practice". The Vajra Guru Mantra
- The Syllable by Syllable Commentary Nichiren Shu Buddhist Temple
- Lexington, Kentucky Nichiren Shu
- The Nichiren Shu is a Buddhist Order founded by Nichiren Shonin (1222-1282). He espoused the Lotus Sutra represents the
focus point of Buddha Shakyamuni's teachings. Cyber-Sangha
- A REAL Jodo-Shin Shu Cyber-Sangha on-line Heart Advice
- Tibetan Buddhist Master, Geshe Dawa's Heart Advice. Sutra Salon
- A 16 Year Cycle of Readings Asanga's Search
- The Story of Asanga in pictures and text. BENEFITS OF RECITING OM MANI PADME HUM Meditation On Buddha Shakyamuni
- a simple daily routine. SUTRA OF
KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA
- Helpful Sutra Study and Text on-line. Not until all beings are saved will I certify to Bodhi." - Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Any way a few sites to play with and investigate Buddhism through as to "How To Practice?" - a.a.  The Noble Eightfold Path
- The Way to End Suffering.
This is a great site for not only getting to read
this important text of understanding Suffering
and forming a Practice; it is a library site of
so many other texts important to Buddhism and
specifically to Theravadan Buddhism. Bodhi Leaves The Sutra of The Three Heaps
- TRISKANDHADHARMA The Dhammapada
- on-line translation by Thomas Byrom The Lotus Sutra | On-Line The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law Index to the Three Pure Land Sutras
- Teachings by the Buddha on the PureLand and Amitabha (Amitayus) Buddha with in his vows. Easy to read and very visual. Discussing life, death and practice of another of the 84,000 paths to liberation and enlightenment the Buddha taught. The Flower of Dharma Turns the Flower of Dharma
- Zen Master Dogen's take on the Lotus Sutra, written in 1241, called
Hokke-ten-Hokke or "The Flower of Dharma Turns the Flower of Dharma" The Dhammapada
- This is a collection of the sayings of Buddha
concerning some every day topics. Gives a
person a feel for what the Buddha was getting
at and felt was important to focus upon.
A Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu -
A Theravadan Buddhism site. Treasury of Truth | online The Tannisho
- A Pure Land Buddhism site discussing the teachings exchanged
between an ancient teacher and his student concerning the use of
the Vows of Amida Buddha. Specifically this is a Shin Buddhist Tradition Site. The Collected Works of Shinran
- A Pure Land Buddhism site discussing the teachings based on the Teacher Shinran and how to use
the Vows of Amida Buddha with in your life. Soon the whole collection can be seen On-Line in this book form.
Specifically this is a Shin Buddhist Tradition Site. Amida Buddha: The Infinite
- A Pure Land Buddhism site containing an On-Line book discussing the Practice of the Nembutsu. Buddha of Infinite Light
- An introduction to the life of Amitabha Buddha and his 48 Vows toward us and our enlightenment - Oya sama Introduction to Teachings of Theravada Buddhism
- The following are links to the Teachings of Theravada Buddhism
and some introductions to and summaries of the Buddha’s Teachings. The Gospel of Buddha
- Compiled from ancient records by Paul Carus, 1894 The Word of the Buddha
- by Nyanatiloka MANUAL OF ZEN BUDDHISM
- by DAISETZ TEITARO SUZUKI The Diamond Sutra
- The Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra The Heart Sutra
- The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra The Great Parinirvana Sutra
- Nirvana Sutra,containing insight into Buddha's Nature. The Lotus Sutra
- This is another Important
Sutra in Pure Land Buddhism,
introducing the Practice of repeating the name of the expedient promises
found in the Lotus Sutra from the Buddha. Handbook for Mankind
- A nice site for those investigating Buddhism or just wanting to know more.
I really like this talk given in a On-Line Book form. It is a talk given
by a Theravadin Buddhist Tradition Teacher and a friend of mine told me
about this book, when given it by a Theravadin Teacher for an
Introduction to Buddhism. Very simple! A Primer of Shin Buddhism
- From Australia a "How to" book on Buddhism and Shin Buddhism in general Genjo Koan
- Genjo Koan: Actualizing the Fundamental Point - Here is the place; here the way unfolds.
- by Eihei Dogen - Zen Master The Novice Buddhist
- Introduction to Buddhism - very basic from a Tibetan Tradition approach e-Buddhist Library
- Explore Dhamma Articles around the world The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma
- Translated by Red Pine 1987 Pure Land of the Patriarchs | Dream Roamings
- Teachings of Han-shan Te-ch'ing Are merely herbs for polishing a mirror. When the dust is removed, They are also wiped away. - Han Shan Te Ch’ing 1546-1623
The Jodoron
- A Pure Land Buddhism site discussing the teachings of ancient Buddhist
Teacher and now a Buddha: Vasubandhu. He discusses here again the practice
of the Vows of the Buddha of Infinite Light: Buddha Amitabha. A nice text from
the Journal of Pure land Buddhism by David Matsumoto. I liked it and this text gave
me ideas to work with in my Practice. Odaimoku - Nichiren Shonin, Odaimoku and Gohonzon: history, reasons for and benefit of practice. Back to Origins
 The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times The Threefold Lotus Sutra A Guide to the Threefold Lotus Sutra The Dhammapada Words of My Perfect Teacher A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher
The Life of the Buddha and The Four Noble Truths Pure Land of the Patriarchs | Practice Teaching The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment | Yuanjue jing A Brief Overview of the Bardo | "Or a story about death...." The Sutra of Hui Neng | OnLine | The Altar Sutra Eight Lectures | Buddhism in Practice Mind Seal of the Buddhas | .pdf Mind-Seal of the Buddhas | on-line
The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths The Six Perfections Gently Whispered Luminous Mind: The Way of Buddha The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya Tara the Feminine Divine Tannisho: The Buddhism of Tibet Awakening the Mind, Four Foundations Training the Mind The Jewel Ornament of Liberation: The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa The Teaching of Buddha - Numata Center: BDK Publications "The Teaching of Buddha" book is a collection of writings on the essence of Buddhism, selected and edited from the vast Buddhist canon, presented in a concise, easy-to-read, and nonsectarian format. It also includes a brief history of Buddhism, a listing of the source texts, a glossary of Sanskrit terms, and an index. Just a few titles to look at when you visit your local book store to have a coffee on a nice Sunday afternoon. These have information specific to thoughts, precepts and attitudes found within Buddhism. They are all nice books to get started with and you will not find them confusing or too heavy. I also like them because they provide information I can apply now to what I am doing. Any way I hope you find what you are looking for and can use. I hope you will find some answers here. 
 Tara the Feminine Divine Back to Books of Interest
I go for Refuge to the Buddha,
May all Beings as expansive as space, have Happiness and all the causes for Happiness.
I Dedicate this Wish for all Beings, as Merit toward Their Liberation and Enlightenment. Reverently I prostrate with my body, speech and mind And present clouds of every type of offering, actual and mentally transformed. I confess all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time And rejoice in the virtues of all holy and ordinary beings. Please remain until cyclic existence ends, And turn the wheel of Dharma for sentient beings. I dedicate the virtues created by myself and others to the great enlightenment.
Maha Bekendze Radza Samudgate Soha"
Are swung by the wind from the pines. From my bed of stone by the wintry lamp I can hear the flowering rain of Buddha. - Wang Wen-lu   Back to the Top of the Page
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