Category Archives: Buddhism
Zenkondo – The Way of Primordial Compassion
The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word, meaning yoke or union. Traditionally, yoga is a philosophical and physical method joining the individual self with the True Nature – Pure Awareness. In Buddhism, this realisation is called by many names, … Continue reading
Are You Living Your Commitments?
Such an unsavoury experience to have witnessed the behaviour of a younger monk (from a nearby Tibetan sangha) behaving like a spoiled, clueless child at the coffee shop this morning. Granted that the primary teacher of this Sangha does not … Continue reading
A Person of Middling Scope
It doesn’t happen often, but from time to time, we find a student enrolled in Western Buddhist University’s monastic formation program, who demonstrates a spiritual and personal maturity, sense of accountability, personal and fiscal responsibility, and willingness to devote themselves … Continue reading
It’s Time…
I have been called, and have called myself a Buddhist monk for 31 years, and likewise called myself and been called a Franciscan, a retired Catholic archbishop, and a Gnostic Master for many years as well (from 7 to 30 … Continue reading
Peace One Day 2012
“Virginia Woolf is said to have once noted that one cannot find peace by avoiding life. Today is the culmination point of ‘Peace One Day – 2012′, a day of global truce, when each of us is invited to extend … Continue reading
What is Pain?
Pain is not the result of bad karma. Karma is not a punitive system. To think so is to confuse it with the superstitious notions found in the Abrahamic religious, pop culture, and New Age ideologies. Pain is an unpleasant … Continue reading
The Great Vegetarian Debate Continues
In Buddhism and yoga, the views on vegetarianism vary from school to school. In this episode of “The Science of Spiritual Living”, we take a look at what Buddha said about this hotly debated topic, and explore whether it’s possible … Continue reading
Healing in the Midst of Profound Disappointment
People often imagine that spiritual teachers, especially the ones we consider to be our Root Teachers, never experience disappointment or fear, anger or anxiety. And that’s simply untrue. Others believe that a qualified teacher “shouldn’t” experience those things, and that’s … Continue reading
Humble Pride and Calm Assurance
Today, I want to share a little bit with you about the difference between arrogant pride, and a sort of humble pride, which comes from quiet and calm assurance that you’re on the right path. So often, we find the … Continue reading
The Six Perfections
If the Fourth Noble Truth is the path to enlightenment, then the Six Perfections can be seen as the assurances that keep us on that path. Only by engaging in the practice of these six virtuous acts, and by avoiding … Continue reading
Self-proclaimed Tulkus, Gurus and the Middle Way
If there were on characteristic that seems to be shared by those dubious and incredulous self-proclaimed tulkus, self-appointed lamas and gurus, and the Lee Press-on Metaphysical Teachers™ we’ve recently seen in the West, it’s that they just don’t know when … Continue reading