About Zen

About Zen-Buddha’s Four Immeasurables

From Richard Powers’s novel, Bewilderment

Theo Byrne, the protagonist in Richard Powers’s novel, Bewilderment, reminds his son, Robbie, that Robbie’s deceased mother, Alyssa, used to chant the phrase, “May all sentient beings be free from…

About Zen — Speaking Truthfully, Beneficially, and Endearingly

Buddha taught in the Magga Vibhanga Sutra that right speech (right being not right or wrong, but that which leads to happiness for ourselves and others) is no lying, no speech that divides and separates people, no abusive…

About Zen — Intention

Our Minds Incline Toward Our Thoughts

When talking about intention (a.k.a., resolve, thought) in practice, Buddha said that our minds incline toward whatever we frequently think about. If we think about sensuality, cruelty and ill-will, he said, then we let go of…

About Zen — Diligent, Ardent, and Resolute

How Buddha Described His Own Practice

Buddha described his own practice as diligent, ardent, and resolute. Diligent in his deeply caring about what he was doing (as well as not doing), and in being conscientious, always thorough…

Earnest Practice

Truth, goodness, harmony, and beauty manifest spontaneously and effortlessly, when experienced in full awareness. This awareness does not make use of things and people. It fulfills them. The process is neither difficult nor protracted. Earnestness is the only condition of success.

[Nisargadatta]

About Zen — A Word from Bhikkhu Bodhi

It’s No Time to be Neutral

Reflections on Trump’s Election Victory

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

When the Biden-Harris team won the election of 2020, it seemed that the specter of Trumpism had been…

About Zen — Bodhicitta

The Condition that Brings Us to Zen Practice

Norman Fischer said that according to classic Buddhist sutras, the one true causal condition that brings anyone to Zen practice is bodhicitta (pronounced chitta). Bodhicitta is the deeply internal and unavoidable human…

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A Primer on the Eightfold Path

Primer

I created a simple primer for myself to remember and return to Buddha’s Eightfold Path. I came up with the acronym, ilsavemc to help remind me. Create one that works for you

About Zen — Meditation in Action

Zen Master Man’an Eishu

In An Elementary Talk on Zen, Japanese Zen Master Man’an Eishu (1591–1654) stressed meditation in action.

“True mind is not remote. It is not a step away, not an inch away, nor a single thought…