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...
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....
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...
The Significance of Prostration in Tibetan Buddhist Practice
Prostration is one of the most physically striking practices in Tibetan Buddhism. The full-body movement, arms outstretched, body flat on the ground, is instantly recognizable even to complete newcomers.This article...
Buddhist Ritual Offerings: A Complete Overview
Walk into any Tibetan Buddhist home or monastery and you will likely see a shrine. Small bowls line the front, a lamp flickers, and incense smoke drifts upward. These are...
Blog posts
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Shankar ThakaliMudras 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...
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Shankar ThakaliTibetan 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...
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Shankar ThakaliNgöndro: 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...
