#Amitābha #Buddha, central to #Mahāyāna #Buddhism, embodies infinite light and #compassion. His #PureLand vow offers universal accessibility to liberation, making #awakening possible for all through faith and devotion. This democratization of salvation is a […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Avalokiteśvāra, the #bodhisattva of compassion, embodies the #Mahāyāna ideal of boundless #empathy and #ethical engagement. Revered across Buddhist cultures, Avalokiteśvāra's adaptability and commitment to alleviating #suffering (#dukkha) highlight […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

The #Adibuddha and Five #Tathāgatas form a unique cosmological and #psychological framework in #Mahāyāna and #Vajrayāna #Buddhism. Their symbolism transforms afflictive emotions into #wisdom (#prajna), offering a path of integration rather than rejection. An […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Maitreya, the future #Buddha, is central to Buddhist #eschatology as the prophesied restorer of the #Dharma in an age of decline. Unlike #apocalyptic traditions, #Buddhism emphasizes cycles of decay and renewal, with Maitreya symbolizing #hope, #ethical […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Buddhism integrates semi-divine beings like #yakṣas and #nāgas from local traditions, reframing them as protectors and moral agents within its #cosmology. This approach highlights Buddhism’s #adaptability and its emphasis on #ethical transformation for all […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

The #Jātakas recount the #Buddha's past lives, illustrating the gradual cultivation of virtues such as #generosity, #patience, and #wisdom (#prajna). Unique to #Buddhism, these tales serve as #ethical guides and #soteriological models, linking everyday […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Buddhist #cosmology adapts and critiques #Indian models, emphasizing #impermanence (#annica), non-self (#anatta), and #DependentOrigination. Unlike #Hindu cosmology, it rejects creator gods and views cosmic realms as conditioned, not ultimate. Liberation […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Buddhist #hells (#naraka) are vivid realms of #suffering, shaped by #karma rather than divine judgment. Unlike eternal damnation in #AbrahamicTraditions, these states are impermanent and act as #ethical mirrors — showing the results of harmful actions while […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Aristarchus's #heliocentric model, proposed 18 centuries before #copernicus, is a powerful reminder of how suppressed ideas resurface in the #history of science. 🌍 https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/09/aristarchus-of-samos-the-greek-sage-who-discovered-that-the-planets-revolved-around-the-sun/

Buddhist #mythology serves as a symbolic, pedagogical, and #soteriological tool, conveying #ethical values and #cosmological insights. Unlike mere superstition, it functions as skillful means (#upaya), integrating local cultures and supporting the path to […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

🌀 #psychedelic #buddhism in 3 works likely by Tadanori Yokoo. #buddhistart is not a relic of the past. It evolves, absorbs, and reflects the present. These images fuse #dharma, design, and modern #myth. #tadanoriyokoo #psychedelicart #contemporarybuddhism

#Dharmapālas, the wrathful guardians of Buddhist tradition, embody the paradox of fierce #compassion. Their role spans #ritual, #ethical, and #psychological domains, protecting the #Dharma from obstacles and symbolizing the inner strength needed for […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

What is a #Buddha? In #Buddhism, a Buddha is not a #god or #prophet, but a fully #awakened human being who realizes #reality as it is (#tathata) and guides others to #liberation. This concept stands out for its emphasis on human potential, #ethical clarity […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

📚#RichardCarrier has just announced a new book: The Obsolete Paradigm of a Historical Jesus (2025). As a scholarly sequel to On the #Historicity of #Jesus (2014), it argues the assumption of a historical Jesus is obsolete. Carrier applies #Bayes to case […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Bodhicitta, the "#awakening mind", is central to #Mahāyāna #Buddhism. It unites #compassion (#karuna) and #wisdom (#prajna), motivating practitioners to seek #enlightenment for all beings. Unlike conventional #ethics, bodhicitta is rooted in #interdependence […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Thousand-Armed #Avalokiteshvara ca 1430, Central #Tibet. Encapsulating the crescendo in Tibet's gilt bronze casting tradition occurring in the 15th century, this magnificent sculpture of the Lord of Compassion in his supreme form is a central masterpiece by […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Hyogo Daibutsu, which is said to be one of the three great Buddhas of #japan. Kobe, #Japan. #buddhistart #buddhism

Mountain deity #zao #gongen (蔵王権現) venerated especially in the Yoshino and Kumano area, #japan, held to be the local incarnation of multiple #buddhist divinities, and especially central to #Shugendō practice. Color & gold on silk dating to the #kamakura period (1185-1333). #buddhistart #buddhism

Katsushika #hokusai: Ocean waves. #ukiyoe

In #Mahāyāna #Buddhism the #bodhisattva ideal shifts the goal from personal liberation to universal #awakening. Liberation is not escape from #saṃsāra but compassionate return through #bodhicitta, where #wisdom (#prajna) and #compassion (#karuna) act together […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Eugen Coubillier is a little-known photographer 📸 from #cologne whose archive was largely destroyed in #wwii. A recent #photobook 📖 brings together what survived, including portraits of everyday life. A rare glimpse into a lost visual history of the city. Just ordered a copy myself and can’t […]

The #Arhat, central to early #Buddhism, embodies complete liberation through the eradication of mental defilements and the illusion of self. Unlike later #Mahāyāna ideals, #Arhatship marks irreversible freedom from #suffering and #rebirth, highlighting […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#TaisenDeshimaru (1914–1982) was pivotal in transmitting #Zen #Buddhism from #Japan to #Europe, emphasizing experiential practice and daily #zazen. His uncompromising approach established a living Zen tradition outside #Asia, shaping European Zen through […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#ShunryuSuzuki (1904–1971) was instrumental in establishing authentic #Zen practice in the #US, emphasizing "beginner’s mind", daily #zazen, and #mindfulness. His gentle, practical approach fostered living communities and made Zen accessible beyond cultural […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#DaisetzSuzuki (1870–1966) was instrumental in introducing #Zen #Buddhism to the West, emphasizing direct experience, psychological depth, and existential insight. His work revitalized Zen in #Japan and inspired global interest, bridging Eastern tradition and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

I just read #RichardCarrier's new article on 'Objective #moral facts exist in all possible #universes', which argues that #morality is rooted in rational agency rather than divine command or cultural constructs. I see some striking parallels with #Buddhism […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Thousand-Armed #Avalokiteśvara (#Guanyin/ #Kannon) carved into a rock wall. Each arm symbolizes a #compassionate response to the #suffering (#dukkha) of the world, extending help in all directions. In #Mahāyāna #Buddhism, this #bodhisattva embodies infinite […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Cave Temples of #dunhuang: #buddhistart on #china's #silkroad. The #mogaogrottoes, located near the town of Dunhuang in the #gobi Desert of northwest China, comprise some 500 decorated #buddhist cave temples dating from the 4th to the 14th century. #BuddhistArt #buddhism

#Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769) revitalized Japanese #Rinzai #Zen through rigorous #kōan practice, dynamic integration of #awakening into daily life, and innovative teaching methods. His emphasis on post-#satori training and outreach to #laypeople established a […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

I must definitely visit this place one day. #romanarchaeology #romanempire #archeology #cologne #ccaa https://social.anoxinon.de/@ninawillburger/115037146589980339

#Bankei Yōtaku's #Zen teaching centers on the "#Unborn" #BuddhaMind, an immediate, unfabricated awareness accessible to all, beyond ritual or doctrine. His radical approach reframes #Buddha-Nature as natural clarity, emphasizing direct recognition over […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

On days like today, the full #bigotry of the #CatholicChurch 🛐 comes to light: #samesex couples still can’t be blessed, but #football scarves🧣 and jerseys 🎽? No problem! Sacramental grace for fan gear ⚽️, but not for love 💔. Earlier this year, I wrote a […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Shinshin (心身) in #Zen #Buddhism expresses the inseparability of mind and body, challenging dualistic traditions. #Awakening is not merely mental but embodied, enacted through posture, breath, and action. This unity redefines realization as a direct […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A 27,000-year-old figurine with an exceptionally detailed face rewrites the #history of #prehistoric #art. #Archaeologists uncovered a #Gravettian chalk statuette 🪆 2.1 cm tall, with carved facial features and grid-like patterns on the back that may depict […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Mosshōseki (没蹤跡) in #Zen #Buddhism expresses the ideal of acting without leaving traces of attachment or self-reference. Rooted in non-attachment and impermanence (#anicca), it advocates a #MiddleWay: engaging fully in life while letting go of outcomes […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Shingitai (心技体) embodies the unity of mind, technique, and body, central to #Japanese #MartialArts and #Zen. It reflects the Buddhist principle of integrated practice, where #awakening arises from the seamless interplay of thought, action, and embodiment — […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Kansha (感謝), gratitude in #Zen, signifies radical acceptance of all life conditions — pleasant or difficult — as integral to reality. Unlike selective gratitude, kansha embodies interdependence and humility, fostering ethical conduct and #compassion. It is a […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

In #Zen, #shisei (姿勢, posture) is not merely physical alignment but the integration of body and mind. Posture is both the form and actualization of awareness, making embodied presence central to practice. #Awakening is enacted through how one sits, breathes […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Gaman (我慢) in #Zen #Buddhism signifies enduring patience and dignified perseverance. Unlike passive resignation, it is active endurance rooted in clarity and acceptance. Gaman cultivates #equanimity and resilience, reflecting the Buddhist ideal of meeting […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Heijōshin (平常心), or "everyday mind", is a central #Zen concept denoting mental #equanimity that is natural, integrated, and non-dualistic. Unlike states of #samādhi or #kenshō, it emphasizes #awakening within ordinary life, challenging spiritual […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#HotsuBodaishin, arousing the mind of #awakening, marks the #Mahāyāna Buddhist vow to seek #enlightenment for all beings. In #Zen, this aspiration is continually renewed, integrating #wisdom and compassion as a relational, #ethical practice — distinguishing […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Fudōshin (不動心), the "immovable mind", is a central #Zen concept denoting inner stability and #equanimity amid change. Rooted in Buddhist teachings on #impermanence (#anicca) and non-self (#anatta), it embodies resilience not through suppression, but through […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Isshin (一心), "one mind", signifies wholehearted engagement and undivided presence in #Zen. Unlike #mushin or #fudōshin, isshin emphasizes unity of body, mind, and intention in practice and daily life. It embodies Buddhist integration of #wisdom and action […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Zanshin (残心) in #Zen and #Japanese #MartialArts denotes a state of sustained, relaxed awareness before, during, and after action. Unlike episodic #mindfulness, zanshin emphasizes continuity and integration, reflecting Buddhist teachings on undivided […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Shoshin (初心), or "beginner's mind", is a central #Zen Buddhist concept emphasizing #openness, #curiosity, and #freedom from preconceptions. Unlike mastery focused on accumulation, shoshin values direct experience and continuous renewal, reflecting Zen's […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Zanmai (#samādhi) in #Zen #Buddhism signifies #meditative absorption not limited to formal practice, but permeating daily life with unified, non-clinging awareness. Unlike other traditions, Zen emphasizes immediacy and non-duality, integrating samādhi into […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Mushin (無心), the #Zen state of "#NoMind", denotes a mind free from grasping and reactivity, enabling spontaneous, lucid action. Unlike mere blankness, mushin embodies refined #awareness and non-conceptual clarity, aligning with Buddhist ideals of #equanimity […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#ShinjinDatsuraku ("dropping off body and mind") is a pivotal #Zen concept expressing the experiential release of self-attachment and dualistic identification. Central to #Dōgen's teaching, it reflects the Buddhist insight into non-self (#anatta) and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

In #Zen, #hishiryō (非思量, "non-thinking") refers to a mode of awareness beyond conceptual thought and suppression. Central to #zazen, it emphasizes direct, ungrasping presence, aligning with early Buddhist #mindfulness yet distinct in its radical #simplicity […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

#Zen practice emphasizes dynamic #MentalStates — such as #NonThinking (#hishiryō), #NoMind (#mushin), #equanimity (#fudōshin), and beginner's mind (#shoshin) — as expressions of Buddhist insight. These qualities arise through embodied #meditation […] [Original post on mastodon.social]