Articles

Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas in Kathmandu, Nepal

October 29, 2026Shankar Thakali Borobudur Boudhanath Buddhist Pilgrimage Famous Stupas Namo Buddha Nepal Buddhism Ramagrama Sanchi Stupa Swayambhunath

Famous Stupas of Nepal and Beyond: Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and More

Discover the famous stupas of Nepal, including Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, the Ashoka stupas of Patan and Namo Buddha, and the great stupas of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Myanmar.

Hands holding a Tibetan Buddhist mala during mantra practice

October 22, 2026Shankar Thakali Articles How to Use a Mala Mala Mantra Practice Meditation Meditation Beads Prayer Beads Ritual Objects Tibetan Buddhism Wrist Mala

How to Use a Mala: The Process of Using Prayer Beads for Mantra and Meditation

Learn how to use a mala, from choosing a mantra and holding the beads to counting rounds and turning at the head bead, with a simple routine for beginners.

Handcrafted damaru ritual drum with silk tail used in Vajrayana Buddhism

October 16, 2026Shankar Thakali Chod Damaru Damaru in Buddhism Himalayan Culture Hinduism Ritual Objects Shiva Damaru Tibetan Buddhism Vajrayana

Damaru in Vajrayana Buddhism and Beyond: History, Meaning and Ritual Use

Explore the damaru in Vajrayana Buddhism and beyond, including its history, ritual use, symbolism, and its meaning in Hinduism and Himalayan culture.

August 20, 2026Shankar Thakali Abhaya mudra Anjali mudra Bhumisparsha mudra Buddha statue meaning Buddhist art symbolism Buddhist mudras Buddhist statues guide Dharmachakra mudra Dhyana mudra five Dhyani Buddhas Green Tara mudra hand gestures Buddhism Karana mudra thangka painting symbolism Uttarabodhi mudra Vairochana Varada mudra Vitarka mudra wrathful deity gestures

Mudras in Buddhist Art: Hand Gestures and Their Meanings

Look closely at any Buddha or deity statue. The hands are often telling you something before anything else does. These gestures are called mudras, a Sanskrit word meaning seal or...

August 14, 2026Shankar Thakali analytical meditation breath awareness meditation Buddhist compassion practice calm abiding meditation Dzogchen emptiness meditation insight meditation lojong Mahamudra meditation techniques mind training nine stages of shamatha shamatha shunyata Tibetan Buddhism for beginners Tibetan Buddhist meditation tonglen vipashyana

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Techniques: An Introduction

Meditation is a word that covers a lot of ground. In Tibetan Buddhism specifically, it names several genuinely distinct techniques. It isn't one single practice done the same way every...

August 11, 2026Shankar Thakali four thoughts that turn the mind guru yoga hundred syllable mantra inner preliminaries ngöndro outer preliminaries precious human life preliminary practices refuge and prostration refuge tree sambhara merit accumulation teacher student relationship three year retreat Tibetan Buddhism for beginners Tibetan Buddhist foundation practices Tibetan Buddhist purification practice Vajrasattva mantra Vajrayana training

Ngöndro: The Preliminary Practices of Tibetan Buddhism

Ngöndro is a word that's come up several times already across this hub. Daily Vajrayana Practice mentioned it briefly. Prostration referenced its 100,000 count. Puja pointed toward it as a...

August 9, 2026Shankar Thakali Buddhist habit building Buddhist practice consistency building a daily practice daily devotion devotional practice family Buddhist practice home altar home Buddhist practice home shrine setup household spirituality Losar observance meditation routine shrine maintenance spiritual routine sustainable spiritual practice Tibetan Buddhism for beginners Tibetan Buddhist shrine

Sacred Ceremony and Daily Devotion: Building a Home Practice

Most people who start a home practice begin with real enthusiasm. A new shrine gets set up. A daily routine gets planned out in detail. Then, within a few weeks,...

August 7, 2026Shankar Thakali Bodhicaryavatara Buddhist ceremony structure Buddhist confession practice chöpa dedication of merit four opponent powers Guru Puja Nalanda rejoicing practice Samantabhadra aspiration prayer seven limb prayer Shantideva sponsored puja Tara Puja Tibetan Buddhism for beginners Tibetan Buddhist puja Tibetan Buddhist ritual tsok Vajrayana practice Way of the Bodhisattva

Understanding Puja: Structure and Meaning of a Tibetan Offering Ceremony

Puja is a word some readers associate mainly with Hinduism. That association isn't wrong, but it's incomplete. The term is genuinely and actively used across Tibetan Buddhist practice too. Guru...

August 6, 2026Shankar Thakali Avalokiteshvara Buddhist chanting Buddhist mantra recitation Chenrezig Green Tara mantra mala beads mani khorlo Manjushri mantra mantra meaning mantra practice guide Om Mani Padme Hum sacred sound Buddhism seed syllable Shakyamuni Buddha mantra Tibetan Buddhism for beginners Tibetan Buddhist mantras trengwa Vajrayana practice

The Art of Chanting: Mantras and Their Meaning

Walk past a Tibetan Buddhist shrine, or sit near a monastery courtyard, and you'll likely hear it. A quiet, repeated murmur, sometimes just a breath, sometimes a low, steady chant....

August 4, 2026Shankar Thakali Buddhist cosmology Buddhist impermanence Buddhist ritual objects chak-pur dul-tson-kyilkhor five Buddha families four gates mandala Kalachakra mandala meditation mandala offering set mandala plate mandala structure mandala symbolism meditation aid Mount Meru sand mandala thangka mandala Tibetan Buddhism for beginners Tibetan Buddhist mandala Vajrayana practice

The Role of Mandalas in Meditation and Ritual

Few images are as instantly recognizable as the Buddhist mandala. Its concentric circles and precise geometry show up everywhere. They appear on monastery walls, in books, and even on objects...