Interesting Article

Chant / Worship Same or Different?

Binh, my student in ESL 51,  and I collaborated on  this essay addressing chant and worship, two words often confused by students of Buddhism. We both look forward to your comments, as we hope to write another piece that further explores the use of language between religions.

The Buddha's teaching first and foremost emphasizes on Enlightenment for all sentient beings, however, while trying to achieve enlightenment, it also accentuates its foundation on how to guide human beings towards and bring happiness to our everyday's life.

Buddha Sakyamuni specially taught the Pure Land Dharma to rescue all sentient beings in the Saha world. He enjoined people to recite Amitabha Buddha's name and make a vow for rebirth in the Pure Land. This wonderful Dharma was taught in the Amitabha Sutra and extolled by all the Buddhas in the Ten Directions. Pure Land is a special teaching adapted to all sentient beings in this Dharma-Ending Age.

A Verb for Nirvana (excerpt)

Back in the days of the Buddha, nirvana (nibbana) had a verb of its own: nibbuti. It meant to "go out," like a flame. Because fire was thought to be in a state of entrapment as it burned — both clinging to and trapped by the fuel on which it fed — its going out was seen as an unbinding. To go out was to be unbound. Sometimes another verb was used —parinibbuti — with the "pari-" meaning total or all-around, to indicate that the person unbound, unlike fire unbound, would never again be trapped.