Sitatapatra: Goddess of Protection from Evil Forces

Sitatapatra with one face and two hands. From liveinternet.ru Sitatapatra (Tib. Dugkarmo) is a goddess of protection from supernatural dangers such as demons and any other harmful influences. Her name means “White Parasol” and she is perceived as a wrathful aspect of the bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezig). As an embodiment of one of […]

Resolutions of Character

“Resolution” has several meanings. The commonly held definition, particularly at the turn of each New Year, is the idea of committing to doing something differently, to improve oneself. Yet people often forget the other definition that needs to accompany this kind of resolution: the resolution denoting a strong will, the idea of perseverance and tenacity. […]

The Beauty of Buddhist Tradition: Celebrating Vesak with Hongkongers

On 27 May, I was in the Buddha-Dharma Centre of Hong Kong (BDCHK), Hong Kong, to celebrate Vesak. It was the weekend, with lay Buddhists from diverse backgrounds: including local Hongkongers, Mainland Chinese, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, and Thais. Devotees who came to BDCHK on this special day were dressed in white clothing. Twelve Buddhist monks […]

Embrace your advantages and deploy your blessings for the good of others

Every day I choose a quote from a Buddhist source that runs on the homepage of Buddhistdoor Global. Tuesday’s theme is Pure Land-inspired, and today I picked one that seemed particularly thought-provoking to me: “Being born as a human, having heard of the Buddhist teachings, and encountered with the unsurpassed great teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance, […]

Homage to Prajnaparamita

Prajnaparamita is the Buddhist goddess of wisdom, a personification of knowledge, revealed in the Prajnaparamita Sutras that laid the foundations of Mahayana Buddhism. The term combines the Sanskrit words prajna (wisdom) and paramita (perfection). Paramita is interpreted as having reached the opposite shore of samsara, and prajnaparamita is translated as “perfection of wisdom” or “transcendental […]