
51 episodes

Spread the Dharma — Buddha Weekly Buddha Weekly
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- Religion & Spirituality
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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Welcome to Spread the Dharma podcast, covering Buddhism and Buddha Dharma, and all traditions, including Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Spread the Dharma is the mission of Buddha Weekly. Buddha Weekly began publishing in 2007. We hope you'll enjoy our in-depth Buddhist-topic podcasts, in several formats, including hosted episodes with our Editor Lee Kane, sometimes with guest teachers and authors. We also publish a series of podcast documentaries, such as our Hayagriva documentary (Vajrayana tradition), Guanyin documentary (Mahayana) and Jataka Tales (Theravadan.) As with our online magazine, books, and videos, we cover Buddhist Teachings and Dharma, Meditation Topics, Sutras and Suttas, Interviews with the Teachers, Buddhist Practices, Buddhist Lifestyle. For in-depth written features, visit BuddhaWeekly.com. For video documentaries and features, please visit our Youtube Channel https://youtube.com/buddhaweekly.
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Medicine Buddha: how to practice and why Medicine Buddha is helpful in healing
Why, in times of pain, sickness or stress do many Mahayana Buddhists turn to meditation and the mantras of Medicine Buddha? Why is Lapis Lazuli Bhaishajyaguru called the Supreme Healer and the King of Medicine? What empowers the healing power of the the great Lapis Lazuli Light Medicine Buddha, known in Tibetan as Sangye Menla?In times of pain, sickness, or stress, many Mahayana Buddhists rely on sacred Medicine Buddha meditation for healing.
Long Sanskrit Dharani of MEDICINE BUDDHA (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzYy8KGIdxs Short Medicine Buddha Mantra (Tibetan Pronunciation) by Yoko Dharma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkWpvmjWpZc Buddha Weekly's Youtube Health Topics and Medicine Buddha Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8d71VyWOwkEwcVlbn9rPhIRzIzOShv6Z 10 Research Studies supporting health benefits of meditation and visualization: https://buddhaweekly.com/science-meditation-peer-reviewed-studies-prove-least-10-reasons-meditate-daily-boosting-immune-system-increasing-cognitive-function-reduction-inflammation-th/
MUSIC AVAILABLE on your favorite streaming service: APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/medicine-buddha-healing-dharani-mantra-in-sanskrit-single/1695980329 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/7GM59ltUh44w7BRLad1BHz OR any of your favorites: Instagram/Facebook, TikTok/TikTok Music/Resso/Luna, YouTube Music, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, Saavn, Boomplay, Anghami, KKBox, NetEase, Tencent, Qobuz, Joox, Kuack Media, Yandex Music (beta), Adaptr, Flo, MediaNet
In Buddhism, where the power of mind is preeminent, it is no surprise that meditation is widely embraced as a healing method.The words medication and meditation differ only by one letter. They both come from the same Latin root word, medeor, which means to heal or to make whole.While modern medicine normally involves various modalities and medicines, in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine meditation plays a large role in healing.
NOTE: It is always recommended that you seek professional health care advice, and treat Medicine Buddha practices as supportive.
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Vajra, Mala and Bell: Buddhist Practice Supports — Why they're indispensible in Vajrayana
Why are vajra, mala and bell called “practice supports” and what do they actually represent? Why is a Vajrayana Buddhist practitioner expected to always carry a vajra, mala and bell, at least symbolically? How can they be used in our daily, mundane lives to symbolically strengthen this bond? What are the guidelines for the use of a vajra, mala and bell?
In this presentation, we try to answer these questions, and more, in our special coverage of the indispensable vajra, mala and bell.
All three, together, represent, the most important veneration objects of Refuge in Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Together represent the Sacred Body, Speech and Mind of the Enlightened Buddha. Importantly, they also represent Method, Dharma, and Wisdom.
The vajra and bell are virtually synonymous with advanced Vajra yana tantric practice — together with the ubiquitous mala. Advanced practitioners also always have a one-handed Dhamaru drum representing blissful activity and wisdom.
A Tibetan practitioner is rarely separated from these powerful meditational and ritual symbols, just as the vajra, mala and bell should never be separated from each other. In Tibetan, the sanskrit term Vajra translates as Dorje. The Bell, in Sanskrit is called a Ghanta. Even non-Buddhists might recognize the symbolism of vajra and bell immediately, among the most widely recognized symbols used in Buddhism.
Literally, each time we meditate with the vajra, mala and bell, we are engaging with a symbolic compendium of teachings of the Buddha: the Body, Speech and Mind of Buddha. We think of them in that order: Body, Speech and Mind of Buddha, or Compassion, Dharma and Wisdom, or Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
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Wish-Fulfilling Praise of Padmasambhava chanted beautifully in Sanskrit with Guru Rinpoche mantra
For most Vajrayana Buddhists, the practice of Guru Rinpoche, the Lotus Born Padmasambhava, is the most profound of practices for meditations, and accomplishments. Chanting both the mantra of Padmasambhava, and the 7 lines of praise, is the purest form of practice. Chanting the praise in the original mother language of Sanskrit, rather than a translation such as Tibetan, English or other languages, is considered the most effective. In this video, chant along with Hrishikesh Sonar, the 7 lines of praise in Sanskrit, with the mantra of Padmasambhava, ideally 27 times daily. We start with a very short introduction and the Praise in English, but you will find the time code to jump ahead in the description. To learn more about Buddha Padmasambhava, see the information icon in the top right.
Before we begin, if you enjoy this presentation, please like, subscribe and turn on notifications to help support the Buddha Weekly mission of Spread the Dharma. Turn on CC for other languages or chant along.
Any translation of the Sanskrit is a compromise since each syllable in Sanskrit traditionally means many things. Also, the vibrations of the mother language are considered to have sacred power.
In English the great Dharani praise translates as:
In Oḍiyāna in the North-West
In the heart of a lotus flower
Endowed with the most marvelous attainments
You are renowned as the Lotus Born
Surrounded by many hosts of Dakinis
Following in your footsteps
I pray to you. Come inspire me with your blessing.
This is followed by the mantra. After 27 repetitions, there is a final dedication in Sanskrit.
Chant along with the amazing voice of Hrishikesh Sonar, the most sacred wish-fulfilling praise of Guru Rinpoche, the Lotus Born Padmasambhava.
hūṁ | oḍiyāne vāyavye |
padmakesarakāṇḍe |
siddhir labdhātyadbhutā |
khyāta padmasambhava |
bahuḍākībhir āvṛta |
tavaivānusarāmi |
āyāhy adhiṣṭḥānārthaṁ |
guru padma siddhi hūṁ ||
Mantra:
om ah hūṁ vajra guru padma siddhi hūṁ
At the end of 27 repetitions:
iti gururatnasaptapadaprārthanā ||
This is the prayer to the Precious Guru, in seven sentences.
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Black Tara Mantra: Destroyer of all Evils and Enemies; Mother Tara's Wrathful Aspect
Tara, the Mother of all the Buddhas, emanates in countless forms to help sentient beings.
In her most wrathful black form, the 7th of the 21 Taras, she overcomes every evil, every enemy, obstacle, negativity — and even curses or evil forces.
All Taras protect.
As Black Tara, in her most wrathful form, she tramples and burns them completely so they can never harm us.
Her mantra is among the most powerful of protections:
oṃ tāre tuttāre ture sarva vidyā avarṇā ye bhye phaṭ svahā
ओं तारे तुत्तारे तुरे सर्व विद्या अवर्णा ये भ्ये फट स्वहा ॥
For protection or just as a devotional practice, chant her mantra in Sanskrit, the powerful mother language. Empowerment is not required to chant any mantra of Enlightened Mother Tara.
Chant it any time you feel threatened, nervous, ill-at-ease, or in need of the nurturing protection of a wrathful mother.
Black Tara is still Mother Tara — just hulked up with power so that she can always protect you.
Chant her mantra ideally 21 times or 108 times, visualizing her as an energetic, black form of Tara.
She is the color and nature of the deep space cosmos, black as a starry night sky.
She can be sitting, standing, or even dancing with energy.
Her whirling fire surrounds you in a protective shield.
As you chant, feel confident in her protection and power.
Notice the vibrations of your chanting.
Concentrate on the powerful syllables.
Although all Buddha's including Tara can emanate in any form, there are two main aspects of Black Tara. In the Atisha or Nyingma lineages she appears seated similar to Green Tara. Instead of Green, she is Black, which is the color of wrathful enlightened activity, her mouth slightly open and wrathful. Like Green Tara, she holds a lotus, but on the top of the lotus is a wisdom sword.
In the Surya Gupta Lineage she is dancing and very wrathful, with four arms.
One arm holds a wisdom sword, another a Dharma Wheel, and the Lotus flower she holds in another hand has a vajra on top. The fourth hand is held out in a wrathful mudra. She stands in the heroic posture, and her red hair is upright.
For more information on this lineage of Black Tara, including the slightly different Surya Gupta mantra, see the video linked in the information icon above.
Whether seated, or standing, black Tara can be visualized surrounded by wisdom flames.
Chant along now, with the beautiful voice of Hrishikesh Sonar, the sacred and powerful mantra of Black Tara, Destroyer of Enemies and Evil, who Crushes all Adversaries to our Dharma practice.
Mantra 108 Times:
oṃ tāre tuttāre ture sarva vidyā avarṇā ye bhye phaṭ svahā
ओं तारे तुत्तारे तुरे सर्व विद्या अवर्णा ये भ्ये फट स्वहा ॥
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Yamantaka Vajrabhairava the Death Destroyer, the ultimate wrathful form of Enlightened Wisdom
Conquering the maras and even death is at the very heart of Buddhism.
As the death destroyer, Yamantaka symbolizes this aspiration, and his meditational deity practice is designed to achieve that goal.
No deity is more misunderstood than the buffalo-headed deity Vajrabhairava, also known as Yamantaka.
Wrathful barely begins to describe Yamantaka.
Yet, he is none other than the great Bodhisattva of wisdom, Manjushri, in his most terrible and powerful form.
How should we relate to such deliberately terrifying aspects of Enlightenment?
Why is Yamantaka considered a Highest Yoga Practice?
In what way can he "destroy death?" We try to answer these questions, and more, in this special feature podcast...
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Kalachakra Mantra: 10-fold Power chanting
Kalachakra mantra and practice are recommended by great Buddhist teachers such as the Dalai Lama in these difficult times. Chant along with Hrishikesh Sonar, the mantra of Kalachakra presented with beautiful meditative images.
To learn more about Kalachakra, watch Buddha Weekly's introductory video linked to the information icon in the top right of this presentation.
To chant along, the mantra:
Oṃ āḥ hūṃ ho haṃ kṣa mala varaya hūṃ phaṭ
The Kalachakra mantra, called the tenfold powerful one — and symbolized in the famous Kalachakra tenfold power symbol — collects all the qualities of Kalachakra and all the Buddhas into one chant. In mantra practice, the seed syllable sounds carry many layers of profound meaning and power. Among the most profound is Kalachakra's sacred syllables.
All of these syllables are combined into one magnificent symbol, the Kalachkra Tenfold Powerful One. They are overlaid together into one symbol, but still separated by the symbolic colors. The Om Ah Hum and Hoh, which stand for the body, speech and mind of the Buddhas are represented by three crowning symbols: the nada, disc and cresent.
In this mantra, Om which is the white disc in the symbol at the top, stands for the body of all the Buddhas. Ah, which is red is symbolized by the crescent moon and stands for the Speech of all the Buddhas. Hum, which is the Blue nada or squiggle at the very top, stands for the Mind of all the Buddhas which also contains the essence of Hoh representing the wisdom of all the Buddhas.
Ham which is the large blue syllable in the symbol, stand for the enlightened body, speech and mind of Kalachakra. KShah which is the syllable of Vishvamata, the consort of Kalachakra is green and stands for the wisdom of Kalachakra and the wisdom activity of the mandala. Ma, which is red is the mandala palace. La, which is yellow, stands for the element of earth. Wa, which is white stands for the element of water. Ra, which is red is for the element of fire. Ya, which is black is the element of air. The complete mantra contains all of the aspects and elements of Kalachakra, who himself embodies all of the Buddhas.
Chant along now, with Hrishikesh Sonar, the powerful mantra of Kalachakra Sahaja.
Oṃ āḥ hūṃ ho haṃ kṣa mala varaya hūṃ phaṭ
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