I wish I didn’t enjoy my prison ministry so much. If it were less agreeable I could make myself seem like a martyr for making the trip out to Jean every Wednesday. But the fact is,…
Just as we know what is meant by “The Buddha says, ‘Desire must a man destroy,’” the Buddha’s audience, assuming that he ever made such a silly statement, would also have instinctively known…
Not Yet, Still Life Still Life by Fly He stood alone, in the middle of his self portrait silhouette; with his back to any onlookers. Alone on a small mound of dark dirt where things,…
It certainly sounds bizarre: the ritual consumption of food or drink that symbolizes or transmutes into the body and blood of a god. Atheists love to mock the ritual and inexperienced theologians try to…
Facing Everything Zen Buddhist Training Right Here. Right There. It is essential that we are able and open to respond to everything and everyone without judgment and measurement. To respond in this way, is the…
As a tribute to our teacher, Ming Zhen Shakya I will post her work throughout the month of November. November 19th marks the 5th anniversary of her departure. Venerable Dharma teacher Ming Zhen Shakya Ming…
The World is Too Much with Us I feel the weight press against my chest. It comes from some twisted expectation. I am sure you don’t know that pressure. You keep your self busy and…
The Marvelous One The Marvelous One is the dweller in the bodies of all; that which you truly are…we are exhorted to cease from vain lamentations over the disappearance of what is transitory…
A Single Thread, A Contemplative Order of Hsu Yun is pleased to offer to sincere practitioners the opportunity to work with one of the new monks in sewing a lay robe. To sew a robe…
Shakespeare gives us a fine image of good intentions gone awry: to his own detriment, a fellow so eagerly tries to mount a horse that he jumps clear over it. Just so, Macbeth, pondering…
Old Monk Flowering 老和尚开花 Lǎo héshàng kāihuā shakya We are happy to welcome a new monk (unsui) to A Single Thread | Contemplative Order of Hsu Yun. The Dharma ceremony took place this month in…
