When the spirit of Zen enters the boxer’s ring, and how the thrill of the fight led to the stillness of overcoming ego and suffering
self-development
The Parable of the Vessel
In his memoir, Vessel (Pínáng / 筏喩), Cai Chongda (蔡崇達) describes the tough-love advice given to him by his great-grandmother (太姥爷 / 太婆): “Your body’s a vessel. If you wait on it to do something, there’s no hope for you. If you put your body to work, you can start to live.” Those words made […]
Mafan
Mafan. 麻烦 or 麻煩 in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, respectively. Meaning: trouble; troublesome; a bother, a thorn in one’s side. Mafanwas one of the first Chinese words I learned as a child. My grandmother (maa maa / 嫲嫲 / nai nai / 奶奶) would utter the word several times throughout the day when I stayed […]
Two Years of Pandemic, Two Years of Practice
The content of this post first appeared in the newsletter published by the author’s sangha, City Cave Zen. When the pandemic took hold, my sangha, City Cave Zen, decided to try holding meetings online, to meditate, chant and discuss the Dharma in a way that would be as similar to physical meetings as we could make […]
Developing a Sense of Similarity
Several years ago, when I was eating lunch alone in the dining area of a university food court, a smiling student recruiter from a major international religious organization asked whether he could speak with me for a moment. I obliged, and he sat down in the chair directly across from me at my table. After […]
Remember to Change Your Oil
There was another time when one of my teachers — the abbot on a temple just outside of downtown Los Angeles — pulled me aside to tell me something important. I was expecting him to share enlightening words with me. In a way, his advice proved to be wise, albeit unexpected. He wanted to remind […]
First, We Must Go to the Edge
First, we must go to the edge of the world A place that can not be found by traveling a straight line. For to look down over the edge requires more than eyesight.
Feedback
I am not breaking apart. I am not coming undoneI am not washed up I am breaking open And it’s about time It’s okayI trust my path
Don’t Try
until you have madeit with your own two hands Silly Puddy in your palms the way God once held us
6 Days and 6 Weeks
Think a little less and live a little more 1. ParentPay attention. Help. Teach. 2. Husband Be kind. Be there. Be a good friend. 3. HealthBe fit. Be of a good mind. Be mindful of the food and the animals. Be in nature. 4. WorkBe on time. Be reliable. Be focused. Be respectful. Be open to opportunity. 5. SpiritualityMake all of the above work in harmony. Be grateful […]