Association for Insight Meditation

Diagrams and Maps

5 images

By Pesala

Charts, Diagrams, and Maps
Burmese Pagodas

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Burma is the land of pagodas. Everywhere you turn you can see a pagoda. A pagoda is called a Stūpa or Cetiya in the Pāli language. They house the relics of the Buddha or his enlightened disciples. The form a focus for homage and meditation. A sacred place where one can easily find spiritual peace.
Teachers

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A few teachers of modern times have attained great fame in the Buddhist world due to their outstanding spiritual attainments and teaching abilities. Some are thought to have been Arahants, perfect saints who have reached the final goal of Buddhism by eradicating all lust, anger, and delusion. If you are fortunate to meet such enlightened teachers and study with them, it will be a great help to your own spiritual progress. Since they are free from favouritism and prejudice, enlightened teachers can guide their disciples with great skill and compassion, encouraging them to fulfil their best potential. Most of these teachers have now already passed away, but their well-trained disciples can still be found.
Stupas

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Stūpa or Cetiya is the Pāli word for a funereal mound. Often called "Pagodas" they contain the cremation relics of the Buddha of his enlightened disciples, or other relics such as items used by the Buddha. After the Buddha passed away (attained parinibbāna) his body was cremated and the relics divided into eight portions. Eight cetiyas were built over these relics, one more over the jewelled casket used to house the relics before they were divided, and a tenth over the ashes of the funeral pyre. The locations of these ten cetiyas are marked on this map

Buddhists pay homage and offer flowers, incense, water, etc., to cetiyas as a deed of merit to pay homage to the noble qualities of the Buddha.
Buddha Images

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My favourite images of the Buddha from around the world.