Jason Espada, well known for reciting sutras, discourses and commentaries, recites his Praise of Tara, a beautiful six minute praise.  The full prayer:  In Praise of Tara Holy Tara, Protector of living beings, May your blessings flow throughout all of our lives and by Your Compassionate Activity, may all the needs of all beings be completely fulfilled now Tara Your beauty tames the minds of living beings. You draw all beings to yourself. Your virtue calms their fears and brings them all fresh...

Jason Espada recites the entire Medicine Buddha Sutra. Recitation or listening to any sutra is considered a healing practice — the more so for Medicine Buddha Sutra with the Great 12 Vows of Bhaishajyaguru, the Lapis Lazuli Medicine Buddha. Chanted soothingly in classical style, the meditation is serene and empowering.   Because of Medicine Buddha's great vows, any person who recites his mantra or sutra can benefit from his healing energy.  Support the show

Jason Espada soothingly recites the Song of Longing for Tara prayer, relied on by millions as a daily practice. After the beautiful recitation — recommended to be recited twice a day — Hrishikesh Sonar chants the 21 Praises to Tara in a beautiful English chant! (Total listen time 20 minutes) In Mahayana Buddhism, Green Tara is the Mother of all the Buddhas. She is the Buddha of the “heart.”  Her practice releases us from all fears and dangers. While all the Buddhas can be seen as Oneness and...

What are the three key aspects of Buddhist Practice? What Bodhisattvas represent these key foundations in Buddhism? How can we bring them into our lives? In this Buddha Weekly video, we introduce the Three Lords of the World, Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani, the Three Great Bodhisattvas. We also present their mantras, here chanted together beautifully by Hrishi. Wisdom, Compassion and Powerful Activity Cultivating Wisdom, Compassion and Activity are the key aspects of Buddhist...

In session 1 of a Mahamudra retreat — a full weekend of teachings — Venerable Zasep Rinpoche introduces Mahamudra and guides a wonderful session that includes a guided session on Samatha Mindfulness — Calm Abiding Meditation. In session 2, Ven. Zasep Rinpoche teaches us how to rest our minds in the natural state — the state of luminescent clarity, or clear light. The first session of a teaching and meditation retreat on advanced Mahamudra, taught by Zasep Rinpoche, the author of Gelug...

Bring the five powers of the Five Wisdom Dakinis into your life by chanting along with the mantras of Buddha Dakini , Padma Dakini, Vajra Dakini, Ratna Dakini and Karma Dakini! These activity Dakinis help bring us the powers of peaceful, magnetizing, subjugating, auspiciousness and supreme acitivites! (For those with faith and devotion.)  By popular request, this is the FIVE mantras, with visualized images version of our previous full documentary on the Wisdom Dakinis. So beautiful! In the...

Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s Powerful Wish-Fulfilling Mantras — Protection, Prosperity, Healing! Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s mantra connects us with the Enlightened Padmasambhava. For centuries, it has been chanted for its spiritual and miraculous qualities. Bring the benefits of this short, beautiful mantra into your life.  Chant along with us now, with the amazing Hrishikesh Sonar, 108 times!  Answering a question to the Lady Tosgyal (as recorded by the Lady), Guru Rinpoche gave long...

Why is Guru Rinpoche, the Lotus-Born Padmasambhava, considered the second Buddha of our times? Why are Padmasambhava's teachings more than just another teaching lineage in Buddhism? Why are Guru Rinpoche's teachings more akin to Quantum Physics than religion? In this Buddha Weekly podcast documentary, we answer these questions and more — and finish with the magnificent chanting of Padmasambhava's mantra 108 times!  Timecodes / Chapters  00:00 Introduction  00:12 The Buddha of Vajrayana Guru...

Many Buddhist teachers have requested students recite Hayagriva's supreme mantra in troubled times. In The Sutra of Forming Hayagriva it is written: "Whoever, including even the insects, has heard the name and mantra of Hayagriva only one time will never again fall into the lower paths." Chant along with us now, Hayagriva's swift and powerful mantra 108 times with Sanskrit mantras chanted (singing, music and arrangement) by Hrishikesh Sonar. (Chanting begins around 2:27 after a brief...

As a child, who did you go to for protection: the parent who let you do anything and smiled while you did it, or the parent who yanked you back from the brink with a stern voice and scowl. When all is right with the world, we go to the smiling parent. When we are in danger, we need our wrathful parent.   In Tibetan Buddhism, Palden Lhamo is that ferocious mother protector. Also known as Shridevi, she is the enraged, dark emanation of Vajra Sarasvati  — who is an emanation of Tara. She is like...

Compassion comes in many forms. Sometimes we need a friend. Sometimes we need a protective warrior. Sometimes, a fierce kick in the rear (metaphorically). And sometimes we need to reduce our obstacles to Dharma practice. Chenrezig, the Lord of Compassion, emanates in countless forms to help all sentient beings, including a "good fortune" aspect.  Does it seem counter-intuitive, that Buddhist practices include "good fortune" practices — especially when Buddha taught renunciation? Does it seem...

Green Tara is almost certainly the most popular Enlightened Buddha form in Vajrayana Buddhism. Tara's mantra is chanted daily by countless Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhists. Tara — the Liberator, the savior, the healer — is the "Mother of all Buddhas. Please enjoy and benefit from this guided meditation video on Green Tara practice for both uninitiated and initiated practitioners, with animated visualizations of the Tam syllable, green light, and Green Tara. The video ends with beautiful Tara...

What are the five Wisdom Dakinis? Why are they central to Tibetan Buddhist practice? Why are they associated with activity practices— peaceful, increasing, magnetizing, subjugating and supreme activities — such as Chod?  In this presentation, we try to answer these questions. We present the mantras of the Five Wisdom Dakinis, sung by the amazing Yoko Dharma at the end of this introduction. The great Padmasambhava, quoted from the book Dakini Activity, defines the vital role of the wisdom...

The Lamrim teachings on the Three Principal Paths — it can be spelled Principal or Principle, either is correct with slightly different contexts — is considered the very essence of Buddha's teaching. (Therefore his Principles but also his Principal teachings.) The three are Renunciation, Bodhichitta, and Shunyata. How can I practice Renunciation, Bodhichitta, and Shunyata when I'm an ordinary layperson? How can I motivate myself to renounce attachments while still a layperson? In part one...

Healing Parnashavari is Tara's Healing emanation, also lovingly known as Tara Dressed in Leaves. Her mantra is renowned through the centuries, for healing and especially for effectiveness against epidemics.  In this Buddha Weekly special presentation, enjoy the healing mantras and visualization images of Healing Paranashari.  Sing-along MANTRA (Sanskrit) Om Pishachi Parnashavari Sarvajora Prashamanayeh Svaha or Tibetan version (very similar) OM PI-SA-CHI PAR-NA-SHA-VA-RI SAR-VA ZO-LA...

If you were facing a life-threatening scenario, would you call emergency services on your phone, calling for help from well-trained first responders — or call your kindly relative. If disaster strikes, we inevitably first think of our wonderful first-responders. In almost any scenario, we are conditioned to look for help from those who are best trained and equipped to help us. Although advice of a loved one can be helpful, you need action and activity when you are in trouble. In Mahayana...

Great Sage from the Land of Snows Lama Tsongkhapa — an ideal practice. His story, praise, practice, and mantras sung by the amazing Yoko Dharma. In these difficult times, we need practices that generate the healing powers of Compassion, Wisdom and Power. These are usually personified, from a Mahayana Buddhist point-of-view in the Enlightened forms of Chenrezig for Compassion, Manjushri for Wisdom, and Vajrapani for Power. Or, in the profound practice of the Buddha from the Land of Snows, Lama...

Why do many Buddhists consider purification practice to be the ultimate meditative practice? Why do Tibetan Buddhists consider Buddha Vajrasattva practice to be the most perfect and complete of purification practices? Do I need special instruction to practice this most profound purification and healing practice? We answer these questions and more in this presentation. Then, take a visualized meditative journey of body, speech and mind with our editor Lee Kane as he describes a simple...

What do the Buddhist teachers say about doggie and kitty Buddha Dharma? Did Buddha teach that Dogs and cats have Buddha Nature, just like humans? How can you help your companion meet the Dharma in daily life? How can we help when our companions are passing from this life? Many Mahayana meditations, sadhanas and prayers use language such as “all beings have been our mothers…” — a constant reminder that every being, even the insect we step on by accident, is our family. Ultimately, Mahayana...

Over the centuries, Vajrayana Buddhists journeyed, in their minds, to visit dazzling pure lands, filled with wondrous Enlightened Beings. Imagine, now, closing your eyes to meditate on Emptiness, and glimpsing none other than Red Tara in her form as Kurukulla. Kurukulla, the powerful manifestation of Buddha in a Female Buddha form — Red Tara, the magnetizing Buddha of Magic and Wonder and Metta. Join our editor Lee Kane, as he imagines meeting magical Kurukulla with a visualization and ending...

Why is Amitabha Practice misunderstood by many Buddhists?  What are the Ten Great Benefits of Chanting the Name Praise of Amitabha? Why is Pureland Buddhism an ideal practice for devoted Buddhists?  For many Buddhists, simply chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, is a complete mindfulness and devotional practice. Taking refuge in this way brings a feeling of immediate peace.  ·      Please consider supporting our "Spread the Dharma" mission on Patreon at...

Did Buddha actually teach or suggest a Vegetarian lifestyle? Does the First Precept of Buddhism prohibit killing of animals?  Does the First Precept of Buddhism prohibit the killing of animals? What 5 Buddhist Teachings Point to a Vegetarian Lifestyle? What 5 Buddhist Teachers Recommend a Vegetarian Lifestyle?  Not all Buddhists are vegetarians. Did the Buddha actually suggest a vegan lifestyle? Which sutras actually give instruction in vegetarianism? These are the questions that frame our...

What's so special about Hayagriva Buddha and how can he help us in difficult times? What's so special about Hayagriva Buddha? Why is Hayagriva recommended to students by Buddhist Teachers — in these difficult times? Why is this most Wrathful Heruka Emanation of Amitabha Buddha so effective today? What is the origin story of this fascinating and ferocious Buddha? In this Buddha Weekly video documentary, we answer these questions — and more. What makes Hayagriva practice unique and special in...

In what way can Guan Yin Avalokiteshvara, the compassionate Bodhisattva, save and protect us from every danger? What ten great dangers does the Merciful Compassionate Kuanyin save us from? How can we invoke her help? Which sutra mentions the 10 Great Protections? Before we begin, if you like this video, please subscribe to the Buddha Weekly channel, and turn on notifications. Buddha Weekly. Helping to spread the Dharma! Millions of devotees around the world call on the name of Guan Yin...

Why is Maha Rakta Ganapati recommended by Buddhist Teachers as the remover of obstacles — the protector of prosperity? What makes Ganapati a spiritual superstar? Why is Ganesha so loved around the world? In Buddhism, what makes his practice unique and powerful? Ganapati — the much loved deity Ganesha — transcends spiritual boundaries. Venerable Zasep Rinpoche, introducing a teaching event, explained his versatile popularity:  "Ganesha is honoured as a Yidam deity as well as a Dharma...