For now, we are not just born to be human beings, but also to encounter the Buddhist teachings, and the Pure Land teaching, in particular, the real teaching that enables us to be liberated in this lifetime. It is the result of Amitabha’s compassionate and sagacious guidance in many lives, so that we can be […]
Author: Teahouse
Missing Another
Master Jingzong; English translation by Foying, edited by Jingxing We may think that our memories of people will eventually fade. But as it turns out, the feeling of missing another only grows stronger with time, although subtly. I often remember my parents who passed away many years ago; my siblings, friends, schoolmates, former colleagues; Venerable Master […]
Activism and Reflection: Finding the Middle Way
These certainly are trying times for any person alive to the suffering of others. We read about new stories of respected teachers abusing their power, new waves of bombings in Syria, a new school shooting in Florida, new worries about global warming, new concerns about the fragility of democracy and human rights in much of […]
Kelaniya University: Looking East
I’ve long admired the monk and academic Prof. Ven. Dhammajoti, who founded the Buddha-Dharma Centre of Hong Kong, in the heart of Shek Tong Tsui near Kennedy Town. I like to call BDC one of the “big four” institutes of Buddhist Studies in our city: there’s the Centre of Buddhist Studies at The University of […]
Burn the Bridge After Crossing It
Master Jingzong; English translation by Foyuan, edited by Fojin If a man finds faith in the Dharma in the course of secular learning, he should give up that learning and devote his energy to his new-found faith in order to derive the maximum benefits from the Dharma. This is called “burning the bridge after crossing it” […]
Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about the Primary Sutras (General)
The Infinite life Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra are the three principal sutras that Pure Land teaching is based on. No matter how profound and mysterious, or how simple and easy a presentation of the Pure Land teaching is, it should not violate the aim and objectives of the three sutras. If […]
The Rooster of Reality
Every day, we face the world through our senses. We become absorbed in sights and sounds that make up our reality, and we become convinced, no matter how dream-like it may be, that the picture painted is real. But, when we analyse the nature of that reality, we seem at a loss to know exactly […]
A Brief Note on Love and Human Feelings
Buddhists are imperfect. We form attachments. We feel suffering. We try hard to balance spiritual prerogatives with worldly success. We feel loneliness. We want the company of others. Unless you have the luxury of a monastic life, you’re dealing with these realities constantly. And I’m writing this as a reminder: It’s OK. Managing samsara is […]
Buddhist Media: Sketching the History of a Vibrant Discipline
Yang Renshan and one of his sons. From Weibo Here’s a bit of a Zen koan: how do you keep still in the Colorado rapids? How do you maintain that mental gap in between events – the gap that allows you to respond to those events in a considered way, with compassion and insight, rather […]
Buddhism and Today: Ancient Principles, Contemporary Conscience
Buddhism. It’s a millennia-long religious story that begins at Lumbini, at the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, where the historical Buddha, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, was born. There, he lived in comfort, until, the legend tells us, he was motivated to begin his journey to Buddhahood after seeing a white-haired, wrinkled old man dressed in […]