3 Ways to Experience Zen Right In Your Own Home

I have always admired Asian inspired home décor art. They just seem to charm and relax me at the same time. Having been to Asia a few times I was able to see numerous Asian-inspired houses.  The houses I visited where one of a kind. There were all beautiful and very earthy and relaxing.

What about you? Would you like to be able to relax and unwind? You don’t have to travel to Asia to do this. You can experience zen right in your home. Here are 4 things you must have complete your Asian inspired look and feel like Asian royalty in your home.

  • Asian Table Top Fountains. Bring relaxation and tranquility right into your home with an Asian table top fountain. Indoor fountains come in different designs, sizes and shapes. I myself have a bamboo spout fountain sitting on my work desk. I intentionally placed it right beside me so that I can enjoy the sound of the water as I work. According to the principles of Feng Shui, fountains provide good chi to a home because they convey openness and symbolize positive energy and prosperity. It has been said that water fountains also infuse the air with healthy ions. I don’t know about you but just the sound of the water is good enough for me. In fact I have three table top fountains at home. One in my room, one my office and one in the living room.

  • Shoji Screens. A shoji screen is a divider that is made out of translucent paper fitted over a wooden frame. Shoji screens are often utilized to divide a room in traditional Japanese houses. These screens can add a unique and Asian appeal to any room. Plus it’s also very convenient as a divider. Shoji screens can be personalized and hand painted. Instead of putting a wall between the living room and your kitchen, why not use a shoji screen? It not only adds a touch of Asian charm it also conserves space.

  • Asian lamps. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to add a touch on Asia in any home is by using Asian inspired lighting. There are many designs to choose from. You can use handcrafted silk lanterns, bamboo lamps, or Asian moon lamps.

  • Art. What better way to say “Asia” than a piece of Thai painting or Chinese calligraphy mounted on your wall? You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get these beautiful pieces either. When I visited Thailand I bought many Buddha statues and hand painted cloths which I had framed for bargain prices. When it comes to Asian decor art, flea markets are a good place to look for pretty pieces to adorn your home.

 

Buddhism 101 – Your Top 4 Buddhism Related Questions Demystified

29960RM1 Buddha Solar-on-Demand_4You are about to learn the basics of Buddhism and discover the answers to the top 4 most common Buddhism related questions.

Who is Buddha?

A prince was born around 563 B.C. to King Suddhodana of the kingdom of Kapilavastu and Queen Maya, and it was known that the prince was predicted by a holy man to become a mighty conqueror or a holy spiritual leader. He was Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who then became the founder of Buddhism, and is known as the Buddha.

Not long after Gautama's birth his mother passed away. When the prince was but a few days old, it was said that he was unbelievably declaring that; He was supreme in the world, he was greatest in the world, he was the most noble in the world, and he was never to be re-born.

Since the founder of Buddhism was born, the King was alarmed by the prediction. He wanted his son to be a king and not a spiritual leader so he didn't allow the prince to see the life outside the palace, by building three palaces for him to live in all luxuries all his life. But at the age of 29, he explored and discovered that life outside the palace were full of suffering.

It made him sad to realize that he was living his life with all the splendor of the rich palaces. Outside the majestic walls that protected him, he saw four kinds of people which lead him to denounce the worldly life he grew up with. He saw a very sick man, a very old man, a dead body, and a wandering monk who abstained from worldly life as a spiritual discipline (ascetic). Later teachings called Gautama's experience as "The Four Sights" and the teachings from the prince was handed down from his followers to generations as Buddhism.

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is the religious teaching spread by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) and his followers which reveals that the causes of suffering in life such as greed, desire and hatred can stop and people can achieve absolute enlightenment.

If Buddhism is a religion, is Buddha a God?

When Buddha was questioned if he was a God, he answered "No". When he was questioned who he was, he answered "I AM AWAKE". Buddha was just a man, who married and had a child. It has been an inspiration for his followers that enlightenment can be attained by a man, through thinking and not by beliefs of divine powers. Gautama's renunciation of the worldly life lead to his enlightenment and he was named "The Awakened One" the Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Buddha's spiritual teaching is very wide in scope but mostly patterned to follow the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Buddhism is learning and observing our own self, understanding our own life and how to handle our daily issues. Because Buddha knew the hearts of people, he wanted man to live happily and peacefully without suffering.

What were Buddha's early teachings?

Buddha's first followers were a group of five holy men who took a grasp of his teachings when he went to the holy city of Benares; which gave birth to the Buddhist religion. From then on until 45 years after they travel from one place to another in India teaching the Dharma. They had insurmountable compassion to help people they meet on the roads; poor, king or slaves alike. They took the night off wherever when the night falls and live from asking food when they needed to eat.

The teachings of Buddha made him champion of the masses; making people feel they were encouraged for their own wellness. He advised people to do their own work while he could only teach them the way how to do it. He always taught them about helping each other. He never showed any sign of anger, never said hurting words and had always been patient, even with his opponents.