SHOCKING: Siddhartha gautama - You Need To See This

Life is full of suffering – but leaning into moments of pleasure can allow the nervous system to rest

The simplicity of breathing; the sweetness of laughter; the privilege of lying on a bed. Buddhism teaches us how to enjoy the small pleasures

The Guardian - AU · Nov 1

10 Sacred Places in India Where Spiritual Energy Is Said to Be Felt Most Deeply

Varanasi, Uttar PradeshThe oldest continuously inhabited city on earth doesn't ease you in. The moment you step onto the ghats at dawn, the Ganga is already doing something, smoke rising from the Manikarnika cremation ground, priests chanting the Ganga Aarti, boatmen moving through mist without hurry. Varanasi is where Hindus…

Times Life · Sep 29

Bodh Gaya Travel Guide: The Mahabodhi Temple, Monastery Quarter, and Months Indian Pilgrims Should Avoid

What the Mahabodhi Temple Actually Demands of YouThe Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is one of the oldest brick structures in the Indian subcontinent, dating to the 5th-6th century CE, and it sits directly over the spot where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The tree standing there…

Times Life · Sep 10

Ancient India review – snakes, shrines and sexual desire power a passionate show

A lovable elephant deity and a floating serpent goddess are just two of the highlights in this sensual show about three of the country’s great religions

The Guardian - UK · May 18, 2025

Gems supposedly buried with Buddha are to be sold at auction – it’s a symptom of Buddhism’s ongoing commercialisation

Almost 2,000 years ago in modern-day Uttar Pradesh, India, someone deposited a cache of gems inside a reliquary (a container for holy relics), along with some bone fragments and ash. The gems were precious, but the bones and ash even more so, for according to an inscription on the reliquary,…

The Conversation · May 9, 2025

Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect on what motherhood means in different religions and cultures. As a scholar of Buddhism and gender, I know how complicated Buddhist attitudes toward mothers can be.

The Conversation · May 6, 2025

On Bodhi Day, Buddhists commemorate Siddhartha Gautama’s enlightenment by lighting lamps to combat darkness

Dec. 8 marks the celebration of Bodhi Day in Japanese Buddhism. Bodhi means enlightenment or awakening in Sanskrit. It commemorates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha.

The Conversation · Nov 27, 2024

Looking for role models among the spiritual leaders of history? Look to the women in their lives

I want a spiritual role model who would have understood how to avert a meltdown at school pickup. So who are the women spiritual leaders?

The Guardian - AU · Apr 21, 2024

What is Bodhi Day? And when do Buddhists celebrate it?

Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day Siddhartha Gautama attained awakening or enlightenment and became the Buddha 2,600 years ago

The Independent UK · Dec 8, 2023

Happy birthday, Buddha! Why the founder of Buddhism has so many different birthdays around the world

When Siddhartha Gautama was born, he was clearly no ordinary infant. According to Buddhist texts, he raised his hand to the skies and declared, “In the heavens above and below the heavens, I am the world’s most honored one. I will free all beings from birth, old age, sickness, and…

The Conversation · May 24, 2023