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I, Not I, and Beyond
At the heart of religious life is a kōan. How, as an individual, we can realize that which is greater than ourselves? Although we are individuals, when we define ourselves as such, we leave out the most important dimension … Continue reading →
The Homing Instinct
Whilst watching a wildlife programme, I was touched by the effort salmon were making to return to the part of the river where they had been born. Swimming up waterfalls and over shallow rapids, whilst bears tried to catch … Continue reading →
Uji
A transcript of a talk given during a meditation period at the Segaki retreat at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in October 2019. Today, I invite you all to sit together with me and all beings, forget time as … Continue reading →
Make of Yourself a Light
This is an edited transcript of a Dharma talk given at Shasta Abbey in June 2022 to commemorate Memorial Day. Last Sunday, we concluded our Jukai Retreat. It’s always inspiring for me to see new people coming and taking … Continue reading →
Here Born We Clutch at Things
Originally published on the Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple website. Since the old Zen Writings were done in times when people were much closer to nature than we in our urbanized society are, it makes sense that some of the … Continue reading →
Fishing With A Straight Needle
This article was first published on the Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple website. In Buddhism we don’t try to convert people, or persuade them that they ought to practise. The motivation to engage with Buddhist practice has to come from … Continue reading →
Right Effort Can Be No Effort At All
What does it mean to make right effort in our practice? You probably know some of the Buddha’s own advice on this. He tells us: it is like the strings on an instrument. If they are too slack, they … Continue reading →
The Light That Stays With Us
If the intention to find the True Refuge in our heart is uppermost for us in life, if this is what really matters for us, we will keep recognizing it, now and in the future. Even if at times … Continue reading →