Temple Stupa Meanings

This is a useful image to help us understand these Buddhist symbols often found at temples. 

Mindfulness

I have been lucky enough to lead a small group of students and occasionally a faculty member in a weekly mindfulness meditation session at work. Here's a good post I noticed today.

5 minute Buddhist

The late Harold Ramis has left us with a great "cheat sheet" for Buddhism that I intend to borrow and make use of. The concepts it makes reference to need fleshed out and it's not suitable for the pure novice, but it is a nice simple and succinct list for a practitioner.

Enjoy!

/\ (palms together)

Lost Opportunities and Divergent Futures

Today I found myself missing Rodney O. Lain (aka iBrotha). I knew Rodney back in 2000-2002. That was an exciting and different time for Apple and the computer industry. The iPod had just been introduced; Apple had oppened their first Apple Stores (Rodney was at the opening for the Mall of America); and the commercials on TV demonstrated the rivalry between the PC and Mac. I was a sales support (Mac evangelist) hired on a temporary basis. I worked at BestBuy, CompUSA, and Micro Center. OS X and the iMovie were all the rage.

I met Rodney a few times and always found him energetic, smart, and engaging. Who knew deep down there was a man fighting for his life? In June 2002 he took his own life. I find myself thinking of all the missed opportinuties because of this senseless end. What future might the Mac, Apple, and Rodney had if he were still with us today?

I know as a Buddhist we are trained in the art of the moment. But the moment finds me remorseful and reminiscient. This could mean Rodney continues to live in my life, giving me the chance to pull upon my memories of this creative, thoughtful soul. He still inspires and angers me. Althought he is here in spirit, I wish I could hear him speak out against contemporary issues and read his railing against The Man. I can only pull from my inner thoughts to bring Rodney back.

Peace, iBrotha.

TIME FOR CHANGE Progress involves moving forward. In the case of a job this can be both professional movement and physical movement. Starting in late October I will be moving from one county law library to another. Why the change? Career, mostly. It is a great time in my career to take on more responsibilities. I will become a manager, have 2 branches, and a larger budget.
	“Everything changes, nothing remains without change.” Buddha

Ringing Flowers

The temple bell stops.
But the sound keeps coming
out of the flowers.

- Matsuo Basho (1644-94)

Bells in Buddhism

The bell from the Chion-in Temple, cast in 1633, is the heaviest in Japan (74 tons)

Significance of Ringing a Bell

According to Tibetan Buddhism, ringing the bell represents an offering to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas in order to accumulate positive karma. Also, the bell represents wisdom, so ringing the bell is the sound of wisdom which purifies confusion. Other significance states prayers can be released by the ringing of a bell.

Wind chimes are thought to be good luck in parts of Asia and are used in Feng Shui. They produce pleasant ringing sounds and are hung by the windows during hot humid summers in order to bring cooling relief. Wind chimes were often hung around Asian temples and thought to attract peaceful spirits while protecting against evil forces. Early on, Buddhists adopted wind chimes and wind-bells into various rituals and the chimes were hung in large numbers on temples, shrines, pagodas and caves. 

Tibetan tingsha (or Ting-Sha) are small cymbals used in prayer and rituals by Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. Two cymbals are joined together by a leather strap or chain. The cymbals are struck together producing a clear and high pitched tone. Typical sizes range from 2.5–4 inches in diameter. Tingsha are very thick and produce a unique long ringing tone. Antique tingsha were made from special bronze alloys that produce harmonic overtones.