Community Feed

Request for assistance in identifying the location of a historical photograph Dear friends in the Dharma, I would like to ask for your help with a small but meaningful request. My teacher passed away several years ago. He was a dedicated Dharma practitioner and a lifelong traveler, spending many years journeying throughout Asia, including China. During those travels, he took a small number of photographs—quietly, without notes or captions, never imagining they might one day need to be identified. Today, some of these photographs are being considered to accompany his written work. While most have been placed successfully, a few remain uncertain. One photograph in particular, taken somewhere in China, has proven especially difficult to identify. I am sharing this here because I trust the collective knowledge and lived experience of the Buddhist community. Someone may recognize the place, the architectural style, the landscape, or even sense a familiar context. Even a small hint—a direction, a region, a temple style—could be of great help. Any insight, no matter how modest, would be deeply appreciated. This is not only about accuracy, but about honoring the memory of a teacher whose life was devoted to the Dharma and preserving a trace of his journey. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for any help you may be able to offer. With gratitude and respect, Jieshi Shan

How to live correctly?🪷 In Buddhism, living according to the Dhamma means living in a way that reduces suffering for oneself and others through ethical conduct, a mindful and collected mind, and wisdom that understands life as it truly is. Ethical conduct guides us to speak and act with honesty, compassion, and responsibility without harming others; mindfulness trains the mind to stay clear, calm, and aware instead of being driven by anger, fear, or craving; and wisdom shows that all things are impermanent, unable to fully satisfy, and not owned by a fixed “self.” When these three—virtue, mindfulness, and wisdom—come together, a person lives with clarity, kindness, and purpose, using time meaningfully and facing change and even death not with fear, but with a peaceful understanding that it is a natural transition.

Death 🪷... In Buddhism, death is not considered the end, but a transition. When the body can no longer support life, consciousness does not vanish, but continues to another existence according to karma. This ongoing process is called Samsara. 🟢 Key points: Death is natural Everything that arises eventually passes away. This is called impermanence (anicca). Death is not to be feared blindly Buddhism teaches that fear comes from not understanding. Seeing death clearly brings wisdom and calm. The quality of the mind at the moment of death matters Actions, intentions, and mental habits influence the next rebirth. Death is not the final destination The cycle continues until one attains Nibbana (Nirvana), the end of rebirth and suffering. 🔹 So, in Buddhism, death = transition, not annihilation. Famous three characteristics: Impermanence (anicca) — everything changes Unsatisfactoriness (dukkha) — nothing can fully satisfy Not-self (anatta) — nothing belongs to a permanent “me” Understanding death in this way is not depressing — it brings clarity, compassion, and responsibility for how we live now.

In Buddhism, mindfulness can be understood in two ways: wholesome (good) mindfulness and unwholesome (bad) mindfulness. Unwholesome mindfulness is directly connected to greed, anger, and delusion. For example, a person may use mindfulness to concentrate intensely on harmful actions such as killing or shooting. In this case, mindfulness is present, but it is guided by unwholesome intentions. Wholesome mindfulness, on the other hand, depends on discipline and right understanding. It is rooted in non-greed, non-anger, and non-delusion. Through wholesome mindfulness, we can help others, reduce suffering, and bring peace into difficult situations. Often, a mindful presence and a non-attached smile are enough to ease the problems of others. Therefore, it is important not only to be mindful, but to be mindful in the right way.