Thekchen Choling

  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...

  Countless eons ago, after making numerous offerings, Maitreya received the Bodhisattva vows from the Tathagata Great Power in the presence of many other Buddhas.  From that moment onward, he has guided countless beings toward enlightenment, leading them along the path of the three higher trainings—discipline, concentration, and wisdom—through the three vehicles: Shravakayana, Pratyekabuddhayana, and Mahayana.  During his time as a Bodhisattva, Maitreya focused on the meditation of great love. Not only did he teach others this practice, but he also engaged in it deeply himself. He would often sit at the gates of cities, meditating on loving-kindness. His meditation was so profound that anyone who came close enough to touch his feet would immediately experience the realization of great love. This deeply pleased the tathagatas of all directions, who rejoiced in his actions and prophesied that in all his future lifetimes as a Bodhisattva and a Buddha, he would be known as "...

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have it easier while others struggle even when doing their best?  Or why do certain experiences keep repeating themselves in your life? Because of karma. It is a fundamental Buddhist principle that explains how our actions shape our experiences, both in this life and beyond. Many people think karma is a system of punishment or reward, like some kind of cosmic justice, but in reality, it is simply the natural law of cause and effect—what we do, say, and think creates ripples that shape our future.   What is Karma? In Sanskrit, karma means action. Every action we take—whether it’s our thoughts, words, or actions—creates an effect that shapes our future experiences.  Think of it like planting seeds. If you plant mango seeds, you’ll get a mango tree. If you plant weeds, you get weeds. Similarly, positive actions lead to happiness, while negative actions lead to suffering. What’s important is that karma is not immediate—it ri...