Vesak, celebrating the Buddha's birth, death, and enlightenment, is the most holy day of the year within most Buddhist traditions, and falls on May 24th/25th in 2013. It corresponds to the month of Saga Dawa in Tibetan Buddhism, and all are celebrated as times to reaffirm our commitment.

The Buddha taught that there are three characteristics of everything we experience in our world - impermanence, suffering or dissatisfaction, and 'no-self'. Deeply contemplating the nature of these is the foundation for wisdom, which is itself a foundation for enlightenment.

The book Dakini Power profiles twelve fascinating, inspiring women teachers within Tibetan Buddhism, including bestselling author Pema Chodron, the most senior Western-born Tibetan Buddhist nun Tenzin Palmo, the first Tibetan women to immigrate to the U.S. Dagmola Kusho Sakya, and more!

Whether your interest in Buddhism is personal or academic, this ebook is the perfect way to begin exploring it. It includes the most popular BellaOnline Buddhism articles, as well as 'Personal Exploration' exercises you can use to explore practices, including different meditation forms, yourself.

Test your knowledge (and learn more about) Buddhist Art, Symbols and Writings with the latest Buddhism quiz. If you haven't already tried the Buddhist History and Buddhist Teachings quizzes, be sure to do so - quizzes are a fun learning tool.

View some of my favorite Buddhist-based books, including those for children and teens. Many of these are suitable for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists, focusing on how developing mindfulness and compassion can help us with the challenges we face in our everyday lives.