Thekchen Choling

  "By the action of circumambulating stupas, the goals of all paths will be realised.” - Shakyamuni Buddha Stupas are deeply embedded in Buddhism as a symbol of Buddha’s enlightenment. This article will dive into the significance of stupas, the benefits of making and circumambulating a stupa, and also introduce the main stupa that we have at Thekchen Choling Singapore.   Significance of Stupas   Stupas are profound symbols of the Buddha’s presence, representing not just his physical form, but also his enlightened mind. Before passing into Parinirvana, the Buddha imparted a significant teaching: “When I pass away you can use my relics, whatever remains of my body, and erect a stupa in a special place. Then you can treat that place, that stupa, in the same way as you would treat myself.” This instruction laid the foundation for the importance of stupas in Buddhism.  Making a stupa is a complex process which starts with the making of moulds and pouring of...

  Speech is the act of speaking or communicating with one another. Many times in our daily lives, our speech can improve or sour the relationships we have with the people around us. Hence, it is a very important aspect of life to consider. There are many types of speech and manners of speech with regards to Buddhism.   The Buddha taught the four types of negative actions in regards to speech. These are namely lying, divisive speech, harsh speech and idle gossip. Unknowingly, in some point of our lives, we all fall prey to these four negative ways of speech. However, it is never too late to realize and transform our negative speech patterns.   Telling a lie may bring some short-term benefits. However, in the long run, one short lie changes himself. If one lies, the experience is that others will start to mistrust you and they no longer believe in your words. Also, if lying becomes habitual, we will then create the cause to be living amongst cheats, whether in thi...

  You might wonder how Buddhist teachings can help us communicate better.  But trust us, there's a surprising connection. If you’ve ever struggled to get your point across, you’ll find that some of the tips here can help improve your communication.  Communication might not come to mind when you think about Buddhist teachings, but it’s an area where many of us struggle—professionally and personally. How often do we hear frustrations like, ‘No matter what I say, it ends in misunderstanding, so I just give up!’?  Sound familiar? Miscommunication is a common challenge. It can lead to tension, broken relationships, or isolation. While there are many tips for communicating effectively, we will explore an approach drawn from Buddhism that will make your conversations more mindful, meaningful, and effective.  Why Communication Matters  Communication is more than just exchanging words. It’s about creating understanding. When we fail to communicate effectively, the r...

  Accumulating merit is more than just offering incense, reciting mantras or being a vegetarian.  Many of us have much merit but not many are able to enjoy these merits. If we have good karma but are not aware of it, we risk squandering it away instead of enjoying the fruits of good merit.   How Much Merit Do You Have?   How do we know we are meritorious? Well, you are obviously human now, with at least some Dharma in your heart, you have family and friends, and you have all your physical attributes with proper features and intellect etc - so you definitely have good merit.   But every day we live, we are just using up this merit, no different from spending money and yet not enjoying the fruits of it.   Although money is not the sole indication of merit, it is one indication. But not all the wealthy are enjoying their merit, there are those who are not happy or cannot get a good night's rest. (Yes, even being able to sleep well requires ...

  Everyone is very interested in wealth, but having inner wealth is more than just having lots of money. It is having a heart.   When we are listening to the Dharma, we need to prevent ourselves from having the three faults. Do not be like a leaky pot. Otherwise, no matter how much Dharma we hear, we will get no result. Any inspiration received from the teaching would have fizzled out by the time you reach home. This is the case even for people who have received refuge but do not know how to cultivate the Dharma. They will remain much as they were, suffering as before without that all important inner wealth.   The main thing is to add Dharma into your lifestyle. Instead of gossiping, try to discuss what you have learnt during teachings at the suppers you have afterwards or when you have a little time with your friends. Do not be selective and choose only parts of the Dharma to apply. For those of you just beginning your Dharma study, there may be some of you who...