Multimedia

The surnames of monastic

Buddhist monks in China all use the surname Shi derived from Shakya—Shakyamuni Buddha's clan name—which shows that they are children of Shakyamuni Buddha. We should only ask monastics their Dharma name, not their surname.

Recommend

Can reciting sutras and mantras help eliminate bad karma and dispel disasters

We recite Buddhist sutras to transform our mind, thereby removing our evil deeds and inclinations and moving toward good, which helps to reduce our bad karma and increase our good karma.

The Four Sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death.

Acknowledging the existence of Eight Sufferings in one's life and facing them honestly is the first step out of endless cycles of rebirth.

The meaning of enlightenment and Buddhahood

The Lotus Sutra teaches about the supreme, thorough, and ultimate Buddhadharma; though it won't make us a Buddha immediately, at least it teaches us to take on the first step on the path to Bud...