Unlike many other faiths, Buddhism is considered to be a way of life rather than a religion. The Buddha himself is not considered to be a deity but rather an extraordinary being, or an enlightened being. The word Buddha itself means enlightened.

While there is no one symbol that describes Buddhism, there are many modern symbols that are associated with the Buddhist faith. The Lotus being among these represents purity, spiritual awakening, and faithfulness. The flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from murky waters in the morning and be perfectly clean. It is also known to symbolize purity of speech, of the body, and of the mind. Perhaps bringing some lotus imagery into your home, either the fower itself or some artwork depicting this can inspire you in your daily practices.

The best way to begin your Buddhist practice is to both respect and live your life in accordance with the tenets of Buddhism, and if able to, familiarise yourself with activities essential to Buddhism like meditation.

The Four Noble Truths, which Buddha taught, are:
  • The truth of suffering (dukkha)
  • The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya)
  • The truth of the end of suffering (nirhodha)
  • The truth of the path that frees us from suffering (magga)

Researching these principles, either by reading books or online resources will help you to understand the core concept of Buddhism and thus make your daily practices in the faith easier.

 

There are tools that you can bring into your practice to help achieve your goal. There is no shame in using props in this way as it is helping you to discover your path.

Mala beads – Mala Beads have been used in Buddhist and Hindu prayer ceremonies and meditation for centuries. These are typically used to aid in counting the number of repetitions of mantras or phrases. Mala beads are typically made from rudraksha seeds, but can also be fashioned with different gemstones like Carnelian and Rose Quartz. The properties of the crystal you use will impact your mala, for example, Rose Quartz will also channel love as well as the benefits of Mala beads. You do not have to be of a particular religion to be allowed to mala beads though it should be noted to pay respect and reverence to them. An example of this is that mala beads are never to be left on the floor they must always be elevated in some way.

Singing Bowls – A Tibetan singing bowl is a type of bell that vibrates and produces a rich, deep tone when played. Also known as singing bowls or Himalayan bowls, Tibetan singing bowls are said to promote relaxation and offer powerful healing properties. Buddhist monks have long used Tibetan singing bowls in meditation practice. Different bowls are attuned to different notes in music and each note will have a corresponding chakra.

Tingsha Bells – Today, tingsha are used along with singing bowls and other instruments in meditation, music, and sound healing. Artists such as Karma Moffett and Perteson Meneses, Joseph Feinstein use multiple pairs of antique tingsha together to create a sonic tapestry effect.

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