The Will to Choose
Work! Your Hair is on Fire! Don’t say, “I DON’T HAVE TIME!” Those words do not encourage, they deflate and burden the mind. It is,… Read More »The Will to Choose
Yao Xiang Shakya
Sacrifice Innumerable Sacrifices A Daily Practice of Devotion Let’s start with a chant, Innumerable Sacrifices. Innumerable sacrifices brought us this food; We consider how… Read More »
Remembrance of Karma Yoga
Hell is empty… and all the devils are here. The Tempest, Shakespeare This fellow Shakespeare knew a thing or two. The line comes from the… Read More »Remembrance of Karma Yoga
The Third Position: Neither Here, Nor There
The Third Position: Neither Here, Nor There It is just a matter of hitting the bell, closing the door, lighting a candle. In the past… Read More »The Third Position: Neither Here, Nor There
Someone Asked. And the Answer is: Right Understanding
Right Understanding. Let me begin with a definition of right understanding. It is a teaching of the Eightfold Path and is considered the root… Read More »Someone Asked. And the Answer is: Right Understanding
Old Age is a Boon
Remembrance of Aging The Four Boons of Aging. My hope is to pull the door open, even if it is just a crack, on what… Read More »Old Age is a Boon
Welcome Our New Member
A Single Thread, The Zen Contemplative Order of Hsu Yun Welcomes Old Heart Mountain, 老心山, Lǎo xīn shān shakya aka Arakawa Mitsugi to our Order.… Read More »Welcome Our New Member
The Arthur Sermon
Escape from Hell We named him Arthur which is a name derived from the word bear. In Medieval Latin Arthurus/Arturus, usually said to be from… Read More »The Arthur Sermon
Dogen’s 8th Awareness: Not Engaging in Vain Talk
Flee the chit chat with others, except as an act of charity. Love people very much. Talk with few. Talk with moderation. Put nothing… Read More »Dogen’s 8th Awareness: Not Engaging in Vain Talk
Being Resolute
Personal Note When I first came in contact with Ming Zhen Shakya, our late founder and my teacher, I had read this particular essay written… Read More »Being Resolute
Those Who Serve & Risk Life & Limb for Others Are Heroes
So much talk in the US about soldiers these days…bashing them, calling them “names” – misunderstanding what and why someone volunteers to serve as a… Read More »Those Who Serve & Risk Life & Limb for Others Are Heroes
The Five Remembrances: Birth. Aging. Sickness. Death. Karma.
The body and mind are of the nature to grow old. The body and mind are of the nature to get sick. The body… Read More »The Five Remembrances: Birth. Aging. Sickness. Death. Karma.