As a chef, I begin food preparation as soon as I wake up in the morning. On the way to the kitchen, I count my steps. Down the lobby, straight ahead—left, right, left, right. My feet glide across the floor and into the kitchen. I turn on the lights and some music. I...

As long as Buddhism has existed, chanting has been one of its core practices. Originally, both recitation and chanting were used as ways to help memorize teachings, as well as expressions of commitment. Many schools of Buddhism today still chant in Pali, the language...

‘Those who seek the Buddha and dharma outside of mind are all children of rich men who have forgotten where their homes are.’ Bassui Tokushō

These days, life connected to the web brings an expectation of rapid fulfillment—of news, shopping, communication. Receiving multiple advertisements or emails at once provides many opportunities to respond to the world. But at times it overloads the senses and...

Dharma Realm Buddhist University, nestled in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, might sound like a mythical school, in a mythical kingdom. But DRBU and “the City,” as residents call it, are very real—even if they are nestled in an especially idyllic corner of...

Saicho, the founder of Tendai Buddhism in Japan, once said, “True riches are not material things but that which shines light into a dark corner.” As I interpret it, lighting up a corner means using one’s own unique talents and passions to brighten a corner of the...

Noel Alumit: How would you describe your Buddhism growing up? Kristina Wong: Zen Buddhism meets Hoarders.  Hoarders? The TV show where people have junk they can’t seem to get rid of? We’re like that. At least in my grandmother’s house, there was so much stuff. This is...

'Very naturally mind and dharmas emerge and harmonise.' Hongzhi Zhengjue

‘You are not able to dismiss lingering habits simply because you are not looking into your own nature.’ Bassui Tokushō

‘It is certain that we have seeds of happiness, seeds of joy, of peace, of love, in us, but it may be that during our daily lives, nobody knows how to touch those seeds.’ Thich Nhat Hanh