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Dismantling Pain & Suffering
Sometimes waves of sadness crash over us that are so heavily charged it feels as if there will never again be any room in our hearts for any sort of happiness or peace of mind.
Whenever anger arises our tendency is to try and rid ourselves...Show More Summary
The New Catholic Pope's Vision of Inclusivity
Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, recognized that non-Catholics, including atheists, humanists, and other secular folks, can still have a moral compass. "We must meet one another doing good," he said on Wednesday.
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From The Under 35 Project: “If I Met Buddha on the Road”
Marie Rose White on what being ”Buddhist” really means to her. If I met Buddha on the road, would he care whether or not I called myself a Buddhist? Would it matter whether I identified as Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Zen, Tibetan, Pure Land…… Would he care if I chanted sutras correctly or whether I practiced [...]
Oakland to debut “Champions of Humanity” statue including Thich Nhat Hanh
Next week, the city of Oakland, California will officially dedicate a massive bronze statue called “Remember Them: Champions for Humanity.” Created by sculptor Mario Chiodo, it features 25 humanitarians from around the world — along with Thich Nhat Hanh, other honorees include Abraham Lincoln, Harvey Milk, Maya Angelou, and Mahatma Gandhi. Click here to see [...]
Dylan at Todai-ji
Here is a real video treat to commemorate Bob Dylan’s 72nd birthday today. In May 1994, Dylan performed at The Great Music Experience, a concert starring Japanese and international musicians staged in front of the 8th century Buddhist temple of Todai-ji, in Nara, Japan. Show More Summary
A “Journey Into Buddhism” — by way of L.A.
The Shambhala Sun has been proud to be a sponsor of several showings of filmmaker John Bush’s acclaimed, gorgeous Journey Into Buddhism trilogy, which includes the films Dharma River (which takes us to Laos, Thailand, and Burma), Vajra Sky Over Tibet, and Prajna Earth (Bali, Cambodia, and Java). And now our friends in the L.A. [...]
Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda
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Patience, Part 997 and Counting
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Josh Korda on “Awakening Together”
There is a disposition in the West to direct our spiritual efforts towards solitary practice—eg. a daily meditation on the cushion—placing less emphasis on the role that interactive, human connections play in spiritual growth. While mindfulness developed in isolation can result in great breakthroughs, it certainly makes for a withdrawn and difficult journey. For we [...]
On being detached
Our original nature is not attached to phenomena. Just as clay and gold are not attached to forms made of clay and gold, our original nature has never been attached to a single phenomenon. When we directly discover this nature...
What Is Merit?
One of the stickier concepts from Indo-Tibetan Buddhism that is difficult to translate, both into the English language and in Western culture, is “merit” ( Tib.
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What Is Enlightenment?
This seems a good question for the week of Vesak -- just what is enlightenment, anyway? (Never mind that "enlightenment" isn't even the right word for what we're talking about, which is something we've discussed before.)... Read Full Post
Need a meditation reality check? You’ll find one in the Summer Buddhadharma magazine.
Are you struggling with your meditation practice? You’ll find your meditation reality check inside the Summer Buddhadharma magazine, on newsstands now. It features a forum discussion on the obstacles to meditation — including laziness,...Show More Summary
Faithful Intelligence
Science and spiritualitypossess common constraints causing a dualistic interplay between both perspectives.
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read moreThe Wheels of the Hearse Go Round and Round
Whenever I manage to get a driver’s license, I want to drive a Hearse with a baby crib in the back. It will serve as an apt reminder of the constantly turning nature of birth and death.
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Insidious machinations
I asked myself today, “What does a failed Buddhist seeker do when they can’t intuit pure Mind?” I didn’t have to wait long to find the answer. I just looked at a few Buddhist forums on the Internet. They are...
Meet Tara Brach, meditation’s “Type-A go-getter”
Buddhist meditation teacher and psychologist Tara Brach has become popular in her hometown of Washington, D.C., especially among high-powered urban professionals. As a new profile from The Washington Post told us this weekend, she’s a “Type-A go-getter” whose weekly meditation classes and dharma talks draw people from many religions and walks of life. Click here [...]
Buddhism and Mental Illness
President Obama has declared May “Mental Health Awareness Month.” At the announcement the President said (thanks to Adrian Warnock for posting this):
“Today, tens of millions of Americans are living with the burden of a mental health problem. Show More Summary
Video: Red Bull China’s mini “Buddhism and Badminton” documentary
Via Red Bull China comes a new video that uses Buddhism’s cultural cachet to move those skinny little cans of liquid speed — while also giving us a glimpse of the monastic mindful life. The question is: while this is quite obviously a promotional video, is that all it is, or does it present some [...]
