I’d like to share with you something that I’ve found helpful in my own training recently, in the context of training in difficult situations. Most of us have probably had one or more events in our lives that have affected … Continue reading →
Helping on an Introductory Retreat recently, I gave the meditation instruction and was stuck by how very direct our practice is. Other traditions may use a technique to help bring oneself to the sitting. In Zen we go straight to … Continue reading →
On our altars there is a water cup, which sits before the Buddha. That cup represents you, me, each one of us. We train to receive what arises within us, from the great mystery that we call meditation. Like that … Continue reading →
We can think of the Buddha’s Truth as enlightenment. It is as simple as that. And when we come across the word enlightenment, what comes to mind? What comes to your mind? What comes to my mind is that if … Continue reading →
Cultivating gratitude is one of the best practices to help our spiritual life. Although we often are oblivious to this fact, everyone always has many reasons to be grateful. When we look with gratitude at what is unfolding in our … Continue reading →
Cultivating gratitude is one of the best practices to help our spiritual life. Although we often are oblivious to this fact, everyone always has many reasons to be grateful. When we look with gratitude at what is unfolding in our … Continue reading →
This is the second in a series on The Five Diamond Points That Penetrate To the Very Heart of the Matter, teaching given by Rev. Master Koten of Lions Gate Priory. It primarily addresses the first point and speaks of … Continue reading →
(This article is based on a transcription of a talk given at the Lay Ministers’ retreat at Shasta Abbey in 2017) [Rev. Master Haryo asks] “Would someone get me some water, please?” [A glass of water is brought]. “Hmm… I … Continue reading →
I recently came across the phrase “the mind of poverty” and was struck by its power. It is the mind that is impoverished. We are not speaking about material poverty, but rather emotional and spiritual poverty – the sense that … Continue reading →
It is so painfully obvious that absolutely everything is impermanent. Over and over, our clinging to that which is impermanent is the cause of dissatisfaction in our lives, so much so that we humans seem hard-wired to re-experience this dissatisfaction, … Continue reading →
