On 7 October, a workshop titled “Understanding Yoga: The holistic health science” was conducted at The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) Graduate House (GH). Ami Ganatra, who has been practicing yoga for over a decade, conducted the workshop with a presentation that covered yoga philosophy, scientific aspects of yoga, practices, and the impact of those […]
The Way of Zen
The Way of Zen is to climb the flattest place on earth. To become a geologic paradox. To crack into the earth, like a creative carving of erosion. The way of Zen is when fire meets ice, like a thundering waterfall made quiet by the sacred nature of rocks. This poem was also published in The […]
Dharma Dispatch, 1-12 October 2018: A Great Rinpoche’s Passing, Amazing Calligraphic Sutra, and Karmapa Resolution
Good morning! The respected Dzogchen master and founder of the Merigar Community, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, has passed away at the age of 79. He breathed his last breath on the evening of 27 September at his residence, Gadeling, at Merigar West Buddhist Center, Italy. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche was one of the pioneering Buddhist masters […]
Master Huijing’s Dharma Teaching on the Infinite Life Sutra
The Infinite Life Sutra mainly reveals the cause and effect of Amitabha’s deliverance of sentient beings, and emphasizes the merits and virtues of exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name. The merits and virtues of exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name are vast. Whether you are a monastic or householder, a practitioner or not, you can exclusively recite […]
Gathering Nectar
In my life as a Buddhist practitioner, I have gone from early days with the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (now Triratna) to primarily Geluk Tibetan teachings, to Vipassana, to a bit of a mix of a few parts Zen and a few parts Theravāda. I sometimes tell people about this and their expression […]
No Situation Can Defeat Amitabha-Reciters
Master Jingzong; English translation by Foying, edited by Jingxin There is no question, however tough, that can stump an Amitabha reciter. He may not find the right words for a perfect answer or may even run out of ammunition to defend his case. But he remains resolute. This is because he is blessed by the amazing […]
Maya: Creative Force, Illusion, and Motherly Love
Reflections. Courtesy of author. The Sanskrit term maya is usually translated as “illusion.” The etymology of the word is considered to come from the root ma, “to measure,” “to give shape,” and “to form.” In some early Sanskrit texts, maya has the meaning of “creative force” and it is related to the three innate qualities […]
Dharma Dispatch, 17-21 September 2018: Mindfulness in Kenyan Prisons, Vietnamese Reconciliation, and Maharashtra Development
Good morning! Naivasha GK, Kenya’s largest maximum-security prison located just north of the capital Nairobi, is using a mindfulness training program to control violence and bring inmates and guards closer together. Dr. Inmaculada Adarves-Yorno, a lecturer in leadership studies at Britain’s University of Exeter, introduced the idea to the prison’s management. The mindfulness program seeks to improve prison culture […]
Postcard from Raymond: Preservation at its Finest (Cave 26, Ajanta)
Of all the caves at the Ajanta complex, I found Cave 26 to be the most intricate, with the unmistakable sense of, “yes, this is it.” We were looking at the literal, physical transition between the earliest days of itinerant wanderers (sramanas) and the days of settled monastic institutions. Unlike the other caves that I felt […]
Murals of Tibet: Making the Invisible Visible
In March, I saw the book Murals of Tibet at Art Basel Hong Kong, and I was amazed by what was clearly more than just a book. As I turned the book’s pages, looking at every image of these fantastic Tibetan Buddhist mural paintings, I was left with a lasting impression that was at least […]