the world, our sangha

“I take refuge in the place for learning the truth, which is every place.“ – A Thousand Hands of Compassion “You must realize that, your husband, your wife, or your children who give you hard time are Buddha who is trying to teach you. Don’t have preconception of Buddha. Buddha is not just a golden [...]

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Secret practitioners, and a bit of silliness

Daehaeng Kun Sunim has often said that we need to keep what we experience a secret, for if we start talking about it, competition and comparisons often arise. In the end, our experiences become just another foothold for “I.” Instead we need to embrace those experiences and completely entrust them, let go of them, and move [...]

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together…

[I'd planned on posting this, and chuckled when I opened my email this morning and saw that Carl's post beat me to it! A good example of working together, on some level!^^. I thought twice about posting again on the same topic, but figured it's such a nice theme, it's worthy of investigating together... Maybe others [...]

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Sangha

“I take refuge in the sangha” This weekend, I did My Dharma Brother Joseph, “Gil Do”,  and his kind and caring wife, Eunbong, Their wisely-countenanced and Jolly Daughter, Fina My patient and erudite teacher and friend, Chong Go Sunim And my Dharma Brother Marcus, “Seokjong” with his gift of mindfulness All in kind and compassionate listening, counseling, [...]

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Sunday Photo; Zen Cloud Temple’s Main Hall

Although there are many things that bring me back to SeonUnSa, the Zen Cloud Temple, its Dharma Hall is among my favorites in the country. Its long, thin Buddhas are friendly, welcoming, and smile down compassionately. The old, faded and beams and walls radiate wisdom. I haven’t found my way back to this temple in [...]

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Being drawn to outward things

Although everything is part of our practice, we still have to make an effort to rein in our ADD, ordinary consciousness. Until we do this, it’s difficult to connect with our fundamental nature. Here are some words of gold by Daehaeng Kun Sunim about this. Although the idea seems simple, it contains deapths that are unimaginable. In [...]

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Guest Post: Colin on reading the Tao Te Ching

Introduction: I first met Colin back in Istanbul in 1998. He’d already lived in the city for five years, I was there for just one. In 2000 we both came to Bangkok, and while I’ve been coming and going, Colin has been here the whole time since. I’ve not yet seen Colin at a single [...]

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the true self

“The name of Nirvana is One-mind. One-mind is the Womb of Tathagata“ – The Lankavatara Sutra “Observe the empty monarch of mind; mysterious, subtle, unfathomable, it has not shape or form, yet it has great spiritual power, able to extinguish a thousand troubles and perfect ten thousand virtues. Although its essence is empty, it can [...]

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Bowing, Meditating, And A Challenging Video

Love, Peace, and Joy to You! Last night I did 108 bows, but I made about 114 vows, or so. I  bow for the same reason I meditate; I know that the benefits in bowing and meditation can change my behavior, or Karma. That is the point of spiritual practice, in my view. I offered more vows, [...]

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Sunday Photo; MangHaeAm Mireuk

Yes, another Mireuk Buddha, and one with a very interesting story, but I’ve decided to save that for another time, and take a personal approach to this one. I hope no one minds! (And I realize that this anti-climatic intro just may be contrary to a certain Great Vow by creating a degree of suffering instead of saving [...]

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