Question: I don’t really like formal meditation that much but I love going for contemplative walks, listening to beautiful music, reading Buddhist books, and other things that feel spiritual to me. Is it OK if I find other ways to be meditative besides sitting on a...
In Zen we are instructed, “When hungry, just eat.” Whenever we eat or drink we have the opportunity to turn our attention to the vivid clarity of this very moment of experience—if we take time to just eat. Too often we feel that eating is something to get over quickly...
‘Even if you explain 1000s of sutras and shastras, unless you see your nature, yours is the teaching of a mortal, not a Buddha.’ Bodhidharma
When I was ordained as a Buddhist pastor, I took the bodhisattva vow. The vows begin with: Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them all. This was daunting. “I vow to save everyone?” I thought. “Everyone?” I could commit to the other vows: Dharma Gates are...
‘Meditate for its own sake — for awakening.’ Everyday Buddhism
What better place to practice mindfulness than in the garden? In the garden, we can let go of what others think of us, let go of trying to please other people, let go of judging our every action. Our flowers do not judge us. We can settle into our authentic selves....
Hurricanes and wildfires have come and gone, leaving hundreds dead. We’re left facing a dire reality: we live on a warming planet. Homes blown apart. Lives lost. Ecosystems flattened. This is how climate change arrives at our doorstep. With the destruction comes a...
Disturbed But Not Disturbed By Norman Fischer Life is very emotional. It’s a constant flow of emotions, sometimes overwhelming, sometimes hardly noticeable, but there all the time. Strong emotions like grief or fury can knock us entirely out of commission. But even...
In high school, my friends often asked me about the Buddhist take on social justice issues. “What do Buddhists think about abortion?” “How about gay rights?” “Do Buddhists eat meat?” “Are you allowed to own a gun?” Sometimes I had an answer, but for other issues, I...
‘Those who have found the way, practise in solitude, walking alone. But they roam nirvana together.’ Zen master Hsuan Chuen