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Essays

Hagakure (#1)

Few writers have been so prolific and so eloquent in their love of their country’s traditions as world-class author Yukio Mishima. In Part I of her Commentary on the Hagakure, Ming Zhen Shakya discusses Mishima’s obsession with the Samurai ethic. An expert swordsman, he planned meticulously for his death by hara kiri, but nothing about his final day went as planned; and his death became a travesty of a Samurai’s heroic demise.

A Father’s Birth (#4)

In Part 4 of “A Father’s Birth” Da Shi Yao Xin finally survives all those pre-natal crises and samples the reality of the moment.

Hagakure (#0)

The Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun is proud to reprint Ming Zhen Shakya’s series on the Hagakure, an account of Samurai life in seventeenth century Japan. In this introduction to the ten part series, Shi Ming Zhen tells us how “Hidden by the Leaves” i.e., The Hagakure, came into being and compares Samurai and Zen’s Spiritual disciplines.

El ladrón generoso

Los sombreros de los monjes Zen japoneses impiden ver quién es el que da la limosna y quién el que la recibe… mmmm… y de que servirá eso…

A Father’s Birth (#3)

In Part 3 of “A Father’s Birth” Yao Xin Shakya follows the directions to the Athonite Church and experiences a revitalization of an old Zen teaching. He wonders how the Christian Blessing will affect his Buddhist future.

El demonio comprado

Cómo todos saben… la constancia nos conduce al objetivo. Una vez desarrollada, se convierte en una actitud que nos permite seguir adelante, a pesar de las dificultades o la pérdida de la motivación.

A Father’s Birth (#2)

“Called or not called, God will be there”, C. G. Jung wrote in front of his house. In “Vespers in the Night”, Master Yao Xin Shakya share some words with an Orthodox priest and realizes the importance of names and its mysteries.

A Father’s Birth (#1)

A simple way of living, distant mountains, homemade wine and the scent of incense become a fine scenario for the mistery of life to unfold. In the “A Father’s Birth”, Master Yao Xin Shakya tell us a glimpse of how a new life can change our world.

The silver mirror

Whenever we lose our vision, we risk losing everything. In “The Silver Mirror”, Abbot Yao reflects on those things that truly matter.

My honor is called loyalty

Abbot John has gone to war again. The Axis Powers were not defeated as we had thought. He hopes to live long enough to get the job done. In “My Honor is Called Loyalty”, he considers constructive options. Who will whisper “Soylent Green” to him?