Buddhism · Commentary · Dharma Teachings · Heart Sutra · Perception · Podcast

Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 4

The Heart Sutra is the most recited, copied, and studied text in all schools of Mahayana Buddhism. It reviews the foundations of Buddhist philosophy while revealing the profound Perfection of Wisdom: the doctrine of emptiness. In this class series, we will study the Sutra in Sanskrit, discuss the key philosophical points of Buddhism, and reveal… Continue reading Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 4

Buddhism · Commentary · Dharma Teachings · Heart Sutra · Perception · Podcast

Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 3

The Heart Sutra is the most recited, copied, and studied text in all schools of Mahayana Buddhism. It reviews the foundations of Buddhist philosophy while revealing the profound Perfection of Wisdom: the doctrine of emptiness. In this class series, we will study the Sutra in Sanskrit, discuss the key philosophical points of Buddhism, and reveal… Continue reading Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 3

Buddhism · Commentary · Dharma Teachings · Heart Sutra · Perception · Podcast

Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 2

The Heart Sutra is the most recited, copied, and studied text in all schools of Mahayana Buddhism. It reviews the foundations of Buddhist philosophy while revealing the profound Perfection of Wisdom: the doctrine of emptiness. In this class series, we will study the Sutra in Sanskrit, discuss the key philosophical points of Buddhism, and reveal… Continue reading Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 2

Buddhism · Commentary · Dharma Teachings · Heart Sutra · Perception · Podcast

Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 1

The Heart Sutra is the most recited, copied, and studied text in all schools of Mahayana Buddhism. It reviews the foundations of Buddhist philosophy while revealing the profound Perfection of Wisdom: the doctrine of emptiness. In this class series, we will study the Sutra in Sanskrit, discuss the key philosophical points of Buddhism, and reveal… Continue reading Decoding the Heart Sutra — part 1

Blog · Buddhism · Commentary

Accessing the Lotus Sūtra

The Lotus Sūtra​ is a magical place, filled with wonders beyond conception. There are infinite ​bodhisattva​s of various sorts, countless worlds illuminated by Buddha’s wisdom (Kubo and Yuyama 15), and a primordial Buddha materializing in a giant flying s​tūpa​ temple (Kubo and Yuyama 175), among other extraordinary occurrences. While the stated location for the teaching is Vulture Peak (Kubo… Continue reading Accessing the Lotus Sūtra

Blog · Commentary · Healing · Heartwood · Identity

What made you believe in Traditional Chinese Medicine?

I studied and practiced Daoism seriously for several years before I encountered Buddhism. I did a two-year immersive (meaning I lived at a rural community with cultivators, teachers, and students, where we practiced and studied every day) training in classical Chinese medicine, Qigong and Taiji, Internal Alchemy, and Daoist meditation practices. Although I have since… Continue reading What made you believe in Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Blog · Buddhism · City of Ten Thousand Buddhas · Commentary · Retreat

Reflections on Guanyin

The core of the buddhist disciplines is putting it into practice. There are many approaches to buddhist philosophy and science: the eightfold path, the seven-step method for developing radical compassion, the six perfectionizers, the five yogic stages, the four noble truths, the three principal paths, the two collections, and developing single-pointed concentration, to name but… Continue reading Reflections on Guanyin

Blog · Buddhism · Chan · City of Ten Thousand Buddhas · Commentary · Dharma Teachings

Affliction is Awakening – Reflections on the Platform Sutra

The Direct Teaching described by Master Huìnéng (638–713 c.e.), the founder of Zen, is at once immediate and elusive. In his teachings, compiled in the Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra (citations below refer to page numbers in this text), he describes his realization of the Original Mind in ways that are simple and profound: he begins… Continue reading Affliction is Awakening – Reflections on the Platform Sutra