As I sat at our monastery’s reception desk the other day, I offered to converse with our visiting monk because his desire was to learn to speak English better. His English was already very good, he just needed to work on putting sentences together better. I wasn’t very good at teaching him, but after five … Continue reading Epitaph
Tag: practices
What is “The Essence of Mahayana Practice?”
THE ESSENCE OF MAHAYANA PRACTICEby Master BodhidharmaComplete title: “Great Master Bodhidharma’s Essential Discourse on Entering the Mahayana Path by Principle and by Practice” To enter the Great Way there are many paths, but essentially they are of two means: by Principle and by Practice.Entering the Way by Principle means to awaken to the Truth through … Continue reading What is “The Essence of Mahayana Practice?”
Pure Land Practice
Notes from talk below: are out of the realm of samsara, like a purgatory. born instantaneously. lifts you up. consciousness out top of head. you develop rapid psychic powers. can help sentient beings. power of suchness. power of travel. remember all past lives and information. have celestial eye, and ears to hear cries and respond, … Continue reading Pure Land Practice
Pandiculation for Shoulder Tension
We MUST have relaxed muscles for the light to get in. If we have tension we are resisting the divine flow of energy into and through our body. All spiritual practices begin with relaxing muscles. Previously, I've posted my struggle with releasing tight shoulder/trapezius muscles related to decades of scoliosis abnormal posturing in my upper … Continue reading Pandiculation for Shoulder Tension
The 3 Refuges
In my tradition, the ceremony of the 3 refuges and the 5 precepts are done together in one ceremony. The Three Refuges In Buddhism, taking refuge has two meanings: to return and to rely. By taking the Three Refuges, we acknowledge that we have been deluded and erroneous in our ways; now we wish to … Continue reading The 3 Refuges
The 5 Precepts
The 5 Precepts are an important ceremony in the life of a Buddhist disciple. The precepts are regarded as means to building good character, or as an expression of such character. One can avoid harm to oneself and others. The precepts are gifts toward oneself and others. People who uphold them will be confident in … Continue reading The 5 Precepts
Inviting the Divine Flow – Transformative Practice
Hopefully, at least once or a few times, by a certain age we have all experienced the blissful feeling of energy flowing through us. Sometimes this is triggered by another person's attention or presence especially if they are living life in a higher energy field. Sometimes it is felt as one lies awake in the … Continue reading Inviting the Divine Flow – Transformative Practice
One Seeker's Story 