Last night I watched Wind River, director Taylor Sheridan’s intense film about the disappearance and murder of a Native American woman, Natalie Hanson. The ambience is extraordinary, the motives for violence primal. The movie, whose protagonists are a hunter deeply embedded in the Native American community (Jeremy Renner) and a well-meaning but unprepared FBI agent (Elizabeth […]
The Three Time Frames of Karma (Part 1)
Master Huijing; compiled by Householder Fo’en, English translation by Malcolm Valaitis, edited and adapted by Householder Jingxing When Shakyamuni Buddha was in the world, a merchant entering a city was killed by a cow. The cow’s master worried that it would bring more trouble, and hastily sold it. The person who bought the cow led […]
In Praise of the Monastic Experience, a Taste of Chinese Buddhism
In July I read the account of a philosopher spending time at the famous Trappist monastery called the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. This is the place where Thomas Merton lived for a while in the 1960s. Reflecting on the beauty and simplicity of monastic vocation, the philosopher wondered, “why do so few people choose […]
Potato Wedges
This will always be one of my most beloved recipes, given my lifelong attachment to potato dishes. They are the quintessential side dish: they never dominate the table but are solid enough to satisfy any hunger pang until the main stars are ready. Add rosemary or other herbs that you enjoy. With thanks to Susan […]
A Cook and a Dharma Master
Master Jingzong; English translation by Foyuan, edited by Fojin A cook who cannot prepare a dish without any seasoning is not a good cook. And someone whose cooking always tastes of the same seasoning, without its natural flavor, is also not a good cook.
Maithuna in Buddhist Art
Photo: Maithuna, Eastern Ganga dynasty, 13th century Orissa, India The notion of the eternal union of man and woman spawned an incredibly diverse abundance of sexual images in Hindu and Buddhist art. In the Hindu tantras the idea of the couple and the act of copulation is called maithuna—a Sanskrit term, which has several meanings […]
China’s Harmony and Freedom from Fear
Amid the turmoil and scandal of the contemporary political world, many eyes are turning toward China as a natural counterbalance to the stumbling United States. The continued growth, both internally and externally in influence, trade, new ports and infrastructure around the world should give pause to any China skeptics still remaining out there. The political […]
Buddhism and the Thailand Cave Miracle
As I reflect on the outpouring of ingenuity, resilience, and collective hope involved in the Thailand cave rescue miracle, I am interested in how there were certain things that the boys and their coach did not have access to. For example, they had little to no perceptible light; they were without cooked and fast food; […]
Straight-Edge Buddhism
The straight-edge movement started as part of the Hardcore Punk music scene in the early 80’s. At that time, drugs and alcohol were thought by many to be ruining the scene, and punks began to abstain from intoxicants in response. In fact, some adherents went so far as to abstain from promiscuous sex and eating […]
Love Versus Principle
Master Jingzong; English translation by Foying, edited by Fojin Love rules in a family, whereas legal principles rule in a court of law. Love is the name of the game for people who are fond of each other. But those who are in conflict resort to principles. A society will not be harmonious unless love […]