Using the Everyday to Reflect on the Profound
I have recently been preoccupied with the notion of identity. I confess, however, that my reflections were not inspired by a sutra or a commentary
What it Means to be a Buddhist
As citizens of Earth, we have layers of identity that make us unique from those around us as well as affiliating us with certain groups.
Shoshin and the Fear of Others
The previous two articles in this column, which explored combining location-independence with letting the Dharma take the lead—what I term “lily padding”—described how tonglen dissolves the fear of
Sowing the Seeds of Metta to Dissolve Fears of the Unknown
Last month, I introduced the overall concept of lily padding as a combination of location-independence and letting the Dharma take the lead. During my seven
Lily Pad Sutra: Living in Transit for Seven Years
Giving up life as a householder and following the Dharma
Towards Dharma-driven Systems Awareness
Technology permeates every aspect of modern life and inevitably influences even the purest Dharma practice. It is not uncommon to find monks and other dedicated practitioners
The Dakini at the Bus Stop
What are those beings that appear to us like thunder—suddenly, unexpectedly, intense, frightening, shaking our souls and penetrating the thin skin of our minds? I
The Way of the Bodhisattvas
It is important to ask questions of ourselves, such as is it enough to only practice meditation or sadhana on the cushion? Are we becoming self-indulging Dharma
Buddhistdoor View: Reflecting on 2016
What a year it’s been—brimming with economic and political upheavals that historians will be debating furiously for decades to come! Many joke (with a hint
Buddhism and Creative Writing, Part Two
James Sanford and his colleagues in their wonderful volume Flowing Traces (Sanford et al 1992, p.3) point out that “Buddhism’s beginnings in Japan had the arts at
Procrastination, Determination, and Compassion
I’ve known people who go to a single meditation retreat and when they return home they start sitting an hour in the morning and an