Determining the Dharma
Saturday September 29, 2012
In the epilogue of the Vimalakirti Sutra, a Mahayana text, there is a conversation between a prince named Candracchattra -- the historical Buddha in a previous life -- and a ... Read More
Translation Question
Monday September 24, 2012
Does anyone know if the standard Tibetan text of the Diamond Sutra was translated directly from Sanskrit, or from one of the Chinese translations, or something else? And does anyone ... Read More
Your Best Season
Monday September 24, 2012
It's time to wind up the look at the Zen koan "Ordinary Mind Is the Tao," case 19 of the Mumonkan. (If you missed the earlier posts, start with "Ordinary ... Read More
Zhaozhou Wakes Up; Wu-men Comments
Saturday September 22, 2012
Following up the last post and continuing with the Zen koan "Ordinary Mind Is the Tao," case 19 of the Mumonkan -- the main case of the koan concludes with ... Read More
Neither Knowing Nor Not-Knowing
Friday September 21, 2012
We're looking at the Zen koan "Ordinary Mind Is the Tao." If you missed the first two installments, please start with "Ordinary Mind" and then read "Directing Ourselves."
The koan thus ... Read More
Directing Ourselves
Thursday September 20, 2012
Here is the next installment of the series on "Ordinary Mind Is the Tao," a Zen koan. To recap the last post, the monk Zhaozhou asked his teacher, Nanquan, "What ... Read More
Ordinary Mind
Wednesday September 19, 2012
In the last post I mentioned the koan "Ordinary Mind Is the Tao," which is Case 19 of the Mumonkan. Let me toss out some qualifiers and warning flags -- ... Read More
The Tao of Vocabulary
Tuesday September 18, 2012
When Buddhism arrived in China, roughly 18 centuries ago, immediately it ran into a language barrier. There were no words in Chinese for much of what the Buddha taught. So, ... Read More
Seeking the Four Reliables
Thursday September 13, 2012
The last post was about what makes a good dharma teacher, It was based on a list of worthy qualities from the Pali Canon, the primary scriptures for Theravada Buddhism.
The ... Read More
Qualities of a Good Teacher
Tuesday September 11, 2012
We've been talking a bit about trust. Especially as beginners, how do we know whether a teacher can be trusted?
In the Dhammannu Sutta of the Pali Tipitika (Anguttara Nikaya 7.64), ... Read More
A Century of Buddhism in Utah
Saturday September 8, 2012
Here's a big shout-out to the Jodo Shinshu Buddhists of Utah, celebrating one hundreds years of practice in the 45th state! On September 15, Shin Buddhists will gather at the ... Read More
Where Can You Place Your Trust?
Wednesday September 5, 2012
I want to come back to the question asked by Thanissaro Bhikkhu in his commentary on the Kalama Sutta -- Where can you place your trust? This question speaks deeply ... Read More
Burmese Monks Support Deportation of Rohingya Muslims
Tuesday September 4, 2012
There are fresh reports that hundreds of Buddhist monks marched in Yangon on Sunday, calling for the deportation of Rohingya Muslims from Burma. The Rohingyas are an ethnic minority considered ... Read More
Trust and the Kalama Sutta
Monday September 3, 2012
The Kalama Sutta may be the most quoted Buddhist scripture in the West. Even people who don't know the Perfections from potatoes can quote the Kalama Sutta to support whatever ... Read More
Buddhists Join Project Supporting Evolution
Sunday September 2, 2012
Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D., is a biology professor, author, and evolution activist who founded the Clergy Letter Project in 2004. The Clergy Letter Project brings together clergy of many religions in ... Read More