Confucius or Kongfuzi

Confucius or Kongfuzi (known as “Master Kong”) is a Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC and the founder of Confucianism.

This legendary historical figure from ancient China lived under the declining dynasty of the Zhous, whose legitimacy would have come from the gods through the “heavenly mandate”.

Concerned about moral values ​​as well as law and order in society, Confucius traveled throughout China and taught much of his life. After his death, his ideas were collected by his followers (also called “the 12 philosophers”), and profoundly influenced all Chinese civilization, but also Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet-Nam.

His reflections were compiled by his disciples in the Analects (“Conversations”) in the form of philosophical anecdotes forming a “manual of good leaders.”

Confucianism (or “scholarly school”) was established as a state doctrine by the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century BC and remained so until the founding of the Republic of China in 1911.

The key values ​​of his doctrine are: respect for the old and the traditions, loyalty, benevolence, modesty and humility.

The Yin Yang symbol

the yin yang symbol
Yin Yang is one of the fundamental symbols of China philosophy

Yin and Yang are the most well-known and fundamental symbol of Chinese philosophy: it expresses the duality through which the universe manifests itself.

Designates the two relative, opposite and complementary poles that characterize each facet of life, for example: shadow and light, the visible and the invisible, the material and the spiritual, self and others…

Perpetual Motion

Yin contains Yang and Yang contains Yin, they are inseparable and one does not exist without the other.

Yin becomes Yang and Yang becomes Yin, nothing is fixed and everything is transformed.

These two relative and mobile principles guarantee the balance of the world, harmony and the universe.

Yin and Yang

Yin Yang is a practical tool for describing and observing the world.

Yin is the black part of the symbol and represents the feminine, the night, the moon, the cold, rest, stillness and the unconscious.

These concepts are qualified as yin in relation to their opposite concepts:

Yang, the white part represents energy, day, sun, masculine, summer, heat, mobility, consciousness.

Yin is calm and Yang is agitation; Yin is the seed and Yang is the fruit.

Arasia-Shop offers a selection of yin yang products: hangings, rings, incense doors, necklaces … Take a look here

To go further: The五行 Wǔ Xíng or the Five elements

The banyan trees: sacred trees

The banyan, also called pagoda fig tree, Bo tree, pipal, or ficus religiosa is a majestic tree that can reach 30 meters, and several hundred meters in circumference!

With its aerial roots descending from its bushy crown to the ground, becoming trunks, and its heart-shaped leaves, the banyan invites to meditation. In Asia, they are found everywhere: in the towns, in the middle of a road, in front of a building or in the middle of a parking lot, and are tended to by devotees who come to place some offerings or prayers.

Indeed, it is said that Buddha attained enlightenment under the shadow of a banyan tree. And the Bhagavad-Gita made it the tree of supreme knowledge.

This tree has a particular energy, the banyan trees are very often found near the temples, and can live up to 1500 years. It has the power to calm the mind, but also to take the mind very high to heaven.

In South America it is called “the tree that walks” because it seems to have enormous legs that can be compared to elephant’s that leave the “main trunk”.

Some famous banyan trees:

The most famous and most sacred is in the holy city of Bodh-Gaya, in northeastern India, where the Buddha would have attained enlightenment.

The Great Banian of Howrah, near Calcutta, India. Its diameter is over 130 meters.

Another famous Banyan is the Dodda Alada Mara in Bangalore.

The banyan is part of many Ayurvedic remedies. One uses its sap, its leaves, or its bark.

Operation 1 euro = 1 tree in Bengal!

Arasia’s reforestation

Shiva Nataraja, Lord of dance

The hindu god Shiva is known under numerous names and forms.

Nataraja The Cosmic Dancer

One of its forms is Shiva Nataraja. It embodies the cosmic dancer who rhythms the entire universe, alternating phases of creation and destruction.

In Sanskrit, “nata” means “dance” and “raja” stands for “king”.

In India, dance is considered as a means to reach ecstasy and unite with the heavenly. Shiva Nataraja is the dance god and it is worshiped by Hindu’s musicians and dancers.

Nataraja Temple

The Nataraja temple is located in Chidambaram (60km south of Pondicherry) and is entirely dedicated to Shiva. On the stone of the temple is carved Bharata Natyam poses, south Indian sacred classical dance, directly inspired by Shiv sacred dance. The legend goes that this temple was built on the spot where Shiva performed the tandâva in front of the Dârukavana forest’s elders.

The Dance of Happiness

The tandâva is “the bliss dance” that endlessly creates and re-creates the universe. This cosmic dance symbolizes the world’s periodic renewal.

To Hindus, dance is older than the world itself because its Shiva’s dance that created the world. To dance is also the grandest way to please the gods. When dancing, one lets their inspiration and creativity and reconcile with the universe’s vibrations.

To Conclude

This facet of Shiva shows its tireless energy – which can be passive or active, static or dynamic with an internal or external focus because what is happening in the universe can also be experienced in the intimacy of one’s being and Nataraja is the cosmic dancer, it is also the god that dance in the hearts of men.

Take a look at our Nataraja statue here

The significance of the lotus

The lotus is an aquatic plant with blue, pink, purple or white flowers that is similar to the water lily.

Emerging from the mud, it rises towards the light and thus represents elevation and spiritual realization.

Traditions

The lotus (padma in Sanskrit) is the sacred flower of Buddhism and Hinduism and its symbolism is rich and powerful.

According to Buddhist tradition, when the Buddha walked, lotus flowers bloomed…

Brahma, the creator God of the Hindus is said to have been born in a lotus. This flower is the symbol of the origin of the manifestation of life.

It also often serves as a throne for the deities.

In India

A symbol of beauty, purity and elegance, it is also the national flower of India.

The Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India, is an architectural curiosity in the shape of a lotus flower about to bloom. It aims to be universal and open to all religions. No particular ritual is performed there, but people simply come to meditate in silence and with an open heart.

Yoga

In yoga, the lotus posture (padmasana) is a symbol of meditation and awakening. Like a lotus, a novice person is mired in the materiality of the world. But as she progresses in yoga, she has the opportunity to open up beautifully.

In this posture, the arrangement of the arms and legs evokes the petals of a lotus. This position calms the mind and awakens the divine energy that lies dormant within us.

Lotus mudra

The lotus mudra, to be done at the heart level, is excellent for helping us feel the warmth of existence. This mudra called the lotus flower opens our heart to universal love.

The lotus symbolizes the heart where the divine sits, as well as the chakras, which are also called the lotuses, or the wheels. The wheel is a stylized lotus, where everything starts from the center and returns to the center.

Arasia Shop offers you natural white lotus incense

And the mandala or lotus flower puzzle

And many other products on the theme of the lotus…

Don’t wait for the change, be it.

For the past decades, we’ve experienced a growing awareness worldwide regarding our resources : the society as we know it is a limited model.

The truth is, we consume resources faster than the planet generates them and the volume of toxic waste is increasing.

Fortunately, more and more initiatives are taking place, which is why today there are so many more eco-friendly avenues to build a greener future for the planet.

The sharing economy, carpooling, urban gardens, everything local or organic or fair, green and renewable energy, eco- villages, waste recycling …

These alternative lifestyles reposition the welfare of people as human beings at the center of concerns.

Today, we are seeing a real return to the sources and the taste of simplicity is found.

Educate yourself, act in your neighborhood, and remember: the world changes if I change!
It’s contagious !

The teachings of Buddhism

“My mind is either my worst enemy or my best friend”

Take control of your mind by meditating to deprogram yourself.

Get rid of negativity in the form of anxiety, discomfiture, greed, hatred, ignorance, fear, or anger by familiarizing yourself with positive states of mind: contentment, patience, kindness and wisdom.

Stay calm and accept the events that you have no control of, and eventually you will be in harmony with the universe.

A fundamental concept that teaches Buddhism is the impermanence of all things and itt is therefore important to not get too attached to anyone or anything

“Do not want what you already have! “

Know yourself more through the spiritual development and you can look inside you and know who you really are.

“He who is a master of himself is greater than he who masters the world. “

More information, and Buda statues for sale on my webshop Arasia.

A tree is worth more than its wood

A tree is a treasure that provides shading, moisture, fruits and fresh air.
A tree is a home to birds, insects and monkeys, the forests are the lungs of the earth.

In yoga, tree posture is excellent to soothe, harmonize and balance the body and mind.

Unfortunately deforestation is raging all around the globe…
Wild animals flee at the sound of chainsaws which destroys the ecosystems and replacing them with monocultures that deprive people of their traditional natural resources.
A destroyed forest can no longer regulate drought and moisture, and tree roots can no longer hold the soil during storms, landslides, and climate change …
We shall remain positive anyway and plant trees!

More and more activities are carried out locally and globally to fight against environmental destruction.

Every single one of us can act at their own scale and broadcast the message.

statue dans un arbre

The Laws of Karma

Karma is a key concept in many religions and Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism and Hinduism.

Karma is the result of consequences of our past, present and future. It is a cause-effect cycle.

In life, our experiences are the result of our own actions and thoughts.

We are responsible for our karma, and to improve it, it is essential to act with positive intentions and compassion.

The most important is the intention of our actions, in other words if you do commit a negative action unintentionally, the karmic consequences will be lessened.

Good intentions lead to pleasant outcomes and eventually happiness and bad intentions lead to unpleasant outcomes and thus misery.

Karma is the seed that you plant: you reap what you sow!

This is the law of cause and effect and retribution for our actions!

Principles to cleanse your karma:

be thankful
act with love
watch your attitude
examine your motivations
forgive others

ldd-karma