Monastic Life
Today I’m going to talk a little about monastic life, and why a person might want to become a monk. We don’t often do this, for a number of reasons. One is that we don’t want to give the … Continue reading →
Taking Refuge
Darkness
This article first appeared in the September – December 2023 Portobello Buddhist Priory Newsletter. This version has been edited. These are a few personal thoughts about ‘darkness’. I am not exploring how concepts of dark and light are … Continue reading →
Do You Need To Be Religious To Practice Zen?
The brief answer is: it depends on what you mean by ‘religious’. If we see ‘being religious’ as believing in a set of religious doctrines that define belonging to a particular religion, then I would say the answer is … Continue reading →
Stepping Up
This is the transcription of a Dharma talk given at Shasta Abbey in February 2022. This is a Dharma talk about aspiration and deepening our practice, in short it’s a talk about stepping up. This is not meant … Continue reading →
The Map To Where I Live
I found myself standing once again amidst an overflow of cardboard moving boxes and possessions, when the lay Sangha blog Dew On The Grass’s new monthly theme caught my attention: ‘The Map To Where I Live’1. I was nearly … Continue reading →
The Way-Seeking Mind
This is a transcription of a talk given at Lions Gate Buddhist Priory in November 2021. Rev. Master Jiyu said, several times, some version of the following: “If you’re going to sit in front of a wall and practice … Continue reading →
The Refuge and our Humanity
This article is based on an online Dharma talk to the German congregation in October 2021. May we not let anything, past or present, get in the way of our taking refuge in Buddha within our heart. There can be … Continue reading →
Four Kinds of Doubt
This writing was adapted from a talk and discussion given at Shasta Abbey offered for lay residents and local sangha members. I’ve tried to retain the informal style of the original talk. I wish to talk about and discuss four … Continue reading →
The Power and Merit of Sitting Still clears Clouds, moves Mountains
Whilst we are on this earth, it is unlikely that we will find or create a sort of heaven realm for ourselves. As the young Shakyamuni realized, suffering exists inherently in this samsaric realm that we inhabit. The pains of … Continue reading →
Turning towards Buddha
This article is based on an online Dharma talk to the German congregation at the end of 2020. At the end of the year, this is my wish for us: may we – in the midst of all that we … Continue reading →
