Category - Art

Art Buddha-dharma

What is Merit and How Does One Acquire It? Evil View #13 and Erroneous Views #16, #18, & #86

There are many incorrect and even evil views held by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike concerning the role of merit in becoming an enlightened or Holy Being. First you must understand that you cannot become a holy being...

September 23, 2018

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Art Buddha-dharma

Can You Determine if Someone is a Bodhisattva by Their Voice or Conduct?

Buddhas and Bodhisattvas use many forms and methods to expound the dharma and benefit living beings. Sometimes they use the gentle “Bodhi Voice” and sometimes they may use the more wrathful “Vajra...

September 16, 2018

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Art Buddha-dharma

Is Studying the Sutras a Form of Cultivation?

No it is not. One may study the sutras to learn how to cultivate oneself, but just the study of the Buddha’s teachings is not the same as practicing those teachings to train oneself to have one’s three...

September 9, 2018

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1 min read

Art Buddha-dharma

How Can You Distinguish What Is Real and What Is Illusory? Erroneous View #45

All worldly phenomena are illusory, not real. People are often confused as to what are holy manifestations of Buddha-dharma power and what are merely illusions. A discussion of two related Evil Views on the nature of...

September 9, 2018

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Art Buddha-dharma

Is there a supreme dharma that can save all living beings?

No. Living beings have very different karma. Some will respond to one kind of dharma, some another. A person must have the karmic affinity to a dharma to be able to successfully practice that dharma. This is why...

September 2, 2018

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"Red-Headed Eagle on a Lone Rock after Having Returned from Thousands of Miles Away." a painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Art Buddha-dharma

Who Has Buddha Nature?

All living beings are equal. We all have the nature of a Buddha and will someday become Buddhas. We must hold all life to be precious whether they be human or from one of the other realms. Erroneous View #32: THE...

August 26, 2018

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Art Buddha-dharma

Which Living Beings Are Most Important?

It is not correct to think that larger living beings are more important than smaller ones. we should protect and treasure the tiniest ant, just as we would a mighty elephant. Erroneous View #85: THE VIEW THAT THE...

August 26, 2018

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Art Buddha-dharma

Misusing Donations

It is wrong to collect offerings for one’s own greedy use, whether under the guise of building temples or stupas, conducting a dharma assembly or event, or for disaster relief. Erroneous View #87: THE VIEW THAT IT IS...

August 19, 2018

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Art Buddha-dharma

Paying for Dharma

Learning the Dharma should always be free and initiations and transmission of dharma cannot be sold. One can only receive initiations and transmitted dharma if their spiritual foundation or karmic affinity is sufficient...

August 19, 2018

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"Cat," painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Art Buddha-dharma Events

Personal testimony concerning certain holy events

In esoteric Buddhism, certain amazing manifestations must occur for dharma events to be authentic. For example, it is an erroneous view to consider a mandala to be a “Holy Mandala”, if the vajra master establishing the...

August 12, 2018

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