At a gathering of some of Kobun Chino Roshi’s long-term students in Santa Cruz, CA, shortly before Kobun’s death, a student asked, “Kobun, why do we sit (meditate)?” He replied: “We sit to make life meaningful. The significance of our life is not experienced in striving to create some perfect thing. We must simply start […]
Archives for September 2012
If The Dalai Lama Were President…
September 27, 2012 by
As you probably know, the Dalai Lama is not only the religious leader of the Tibetan people in exile. He is also the political leader. What would happen if the Dalai Lama were president of the United States? His belief in democracy and human rights is so strong that should Tibet become free of Chinese rule, […]
The Buddhist Teaching of Non-Self
September 24, 2012 by
In a recent post on Best Meditation Videos, I asked the question, “Is there a self?” The post was inspired by a video featuring Dr. Thomas Metzinger, a philosophy professor and cognitive scientist. His answer to my questions is, “No!” The Buddhist teachings on non-self were outlined in that post. Here, we provide deeper look into the […]
Milarepa, Tibet’s Greatest Yogi and Poet
September 23, 2012 by
When I am in retreat in my mountain cave, in the high Himalayan wilderness above the snowline, clad only in pure white Indian cotton robes and samaya vows, warm with the heat of samadhi, My Father-guru Marpa the Translator and all the root and lineage gurus, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are with me. In spiritual practice […]
Compassion Meditation Research
September 21, 2012 by
Compassion meditation research is progressing today at a phenomenal rate. One of the leading researchers in this field is Dr. Richie Davidson, founder of the discipline of affective neuroscience. His involvement with the Dalai Lama and the Mind and Life Institute provide inspiration for fulfilling his life purpose. I am totally excited that Dr. Davidson is coming to Stanford! […]
Richie Davidson Is Coming To Stanford
September 18, 2012 by
Dr. Richie Davidson is one of the most successful and brilliant researchers in the field of neuroscience of meditation. He is especially interested in how meditation affects our brains. He has spent much time with the Dalai Lama discussing his research and taking the Dalai Lama’s ideas for research into practice. He has been a featured […]
Three Frames Of Insight From Zen Master Albert Einstein!
September 18, 2012 by
I bet you didn’t know that Albert Einstein was a Zen Master! How did I come to this conclusion? Buddhists talk about two broad types of meditation: samatha (calming) and vipassana (insight). One develops samatha and that leads to vipassana. The insights in these frames can be the results of insight meditation. They came naturally […]
Mill Valley Honors Two MaryKnoll Sisters
September 10, 2012 by
In a matter of a week or two, Paula Carvey managed to fill the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, California to capacity for a fundraiser for the MaryKnoll Sisters World Wide Ministries. Prior to the interview with Sister Mary Reese and Sister Rosalie Lacorte, comedians Mark Pitta and Dana Carvey performed for about an hour […]
Quote From Gandhi
September 9, 2012 by
I have always been touched by this quote from Gandhi. The wisdom of my forefathers was, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!” You’ve probably heard that before. Gandhi’s version makes more sense to me. What do you think?
Love Is A State Of Being
September 7, 2012 by
When I met Rajneesh many years ago, he gave me the name, Swami Deva Ninad, which means “Divine sound of the waterfall.” Many friends still call me, “Ninad.” Like the flowers in this quote from Osho, the water in the waterfall keeps on flowing, no matter who observes it. Love Is A State Of Being […]
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