Is Buddhism a Religion?

In the March 2018 issue of Lion’s Roar magazine, there is a very interesting discussion on “Is Buddhism a religion.” I am presenting these arguments because I am a Buddhist and have two religious brothers who are orthodox Jews. I am also curios to hear whether you would consider the Plum Village tradition of Zen […]

The Goal of Meditation

Many people think that the goal of meditation is to achieve a state called “enlightenment,” nirvana, the ultimate dimension, the other shore, or God. In actuality, many of the states are not achievable when we are caught in our thoughts, feelings, emotions, plans, dreams, fantasies, and memories. However, there is a state of well-being that […]

Fourteen Verses on Meditation

These Fourteen Verses on Meditation were written by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and translated from Vietnamese by ChanCo, Maple Village May 2016. I want to express my gratitude to ChanCo who wrote regarding the translation, In my translation, I have considered that these verses are verses of practice so I have tried to make […]

Take Refuge in Yourself

The Buddha teaches us to take refuge in yourself. Taking refuge in yourself gives you the strength to be just as you are, without having to impress anyone else or kowtow to anyone else. You become an island unto yourself. Oneself is one’s own protector (refuge) indeed, What other protector (refuge) can there be? With […]

Reaching the Ultimate Dimension

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us about reaching the ultimate dimension. The ultimate dimension distinguished from the historical dimension of ordinary life. In ordinary life, we have pain. We have suffering. We have conflict. We have war. We have arguments. We strive for wealth, technology, sex, and power. We lose site of what we […]

We Make the Path by Walking It

Lyn Fine is a dharma teacher in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Over the past dozen years or more, I have often heard her say, “We make the path by walking it!” I often think of this when I’m planning my next move in healing myself of muscle invasive bladder cancer. I […]

No Permanent Self

One of the main teachings of the Buddha is now coming forward in the scientific community. This teaching is that there is no permanent self. Along with impermanence and nirvana, non-self is one of the three Dharma Seals. All forms of Buddhism have these Dharma Seals. When we look into impermanence, we see that everything changes. […]

What Remains Of The Buddha’s Body?

In the PBS series, Secrets of the Dead, historian Charles Allen investigates what remains of the Buddha’s body in an episode named Bones of the Buddha. This very interesting story was encased in controversy since the discovery of a stupa in Piprahwa, Northern India. This happens to be located in the ancient land of the […]

Vows of the Bodhisattvas

Vows of the Bodhisattvas Creations are numberless, I vow to free them Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to transform them Reality is boundless, I vow to perceive it The awakened way is unsurpassable, I vow to embody it A bodhisattva is an enlightened being who has forsaken final nirvana in order to help save all […]

Lincoln And Enlightened Leadership

This week’s Words of Wisdom chosen by Lama Surya Das is about the movie, Lincoln. The movie stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Jackie Earle Haley, Tommy Lee Jones, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and was directed by Steven Spielberg. I’ve heard that Sally Field gained a lot of weight to play the part of Mrs. Lincoln. Lincoln’s struggle to […]