Literally meaning awakening being, a bodhisattva is one oriented toward attaining enlightenment. In early mainstream Buddhist traditions, the term refers specifically to the Buddha in his former lives as he progressed toward awakening. In Mahayana traditions,…

Bon is an indigenous Tibetan religious tradition with deep pre-Buddhist roots that later developed in dialogue with Buddhism. Bon institutions and scriptures were systematized between the 10th and 11th centuries and incorporate many Buddhist doctrines, rituals,…

Often translated as divine abidings, sublime states, or four immeasurables, the brahmaviharas are four foundational ethical and meditative qualities cultivated in Buddhism: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. These qualities are developed through systematic contemplation and…

Literally meaning awakened or enlightened one, buddha is a title given to beings who have attained full enlightenment. The Buddha most commonly refers to Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Shakyamuni, following his enlightenment. In Buddhist cosmology,…

Buddha-nature is a Mahayana teaching that affirms the inherent potential of all sentient beings to attain buddhahood. Buddha-nature is often described as the mind’s intrinsic clarity or luminosity, obscured but not destroyed by defilements. Historically, this…

One of the world’s major religious and philosophical traditions, Buddhism is practiced by more than 500 million people worldwide. Rooted in the teachings of the Buddha, it offers a path for understanding suffering, cultivating wisdom, and…