KARMA In Zen Buddhism, Karma is a central concept referring to intentional action of body, speech, or thought that is driven by decision (cetanā), leading to future consequences. The term itself comes from the Sanskrit word for "action" or "doing," and in the Buddhist context, it specifically denotes volitional actions, meaning they are done deliberately, […]
Compassion: a Zen perspective. From the Latin Com = together, Passionate = suffering. In Zen, compassion, referred to as karuna, is fundamentally the wish and the behavior that the self and others be free from suffering, and its roots. It is not a feeling of mere sympathy or just empathy, but a deep, intrinsic understanding […]
Complaining is one of our ego’s favorite strategies for self-identification and strengthening.How often do you catch yourself complaining about whomever, whatever, whenever?Or even about your life and life in general. The list is endless. We are complaining mostly subconsciously, as demonstrated using hypnosis.Our reactions while complaining take many forms, appropriate or detrimental, that I will […]
There are 2 types of awareness: One is the mundane one that is knowing this and that from memory. The other one is more subtle and fundamental regarding Zen philosophy and practice. Awareness is to pay attention, mindfully, to the present moment, and its content, whatever it is. Awareness is the essence of the practice […]
A koan is a short story, a sentence, a parable, an image, a few words, a dialogue, a riddle that, at first glance, does not make any sense, being perceived as absurd, illogical, crazy, aberrant, or meaningless. Example: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" Koans were created in the 13th century in China […]
Proper Action by Miranda Proper action, the fourth step of the Noble Eightfold Path, falls under the category of ethical conduct. It guides us toward living morally, peacefully, and honourably by refraining from harmful behaviour. Skilful action emphasises abstaining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct, encouraging us to cultivate a life rooted in compassion and […]
Japanese Zen Master Dogen (13th century ) used to teach that seeking something, someone, somewhere, all the time, is feeding suffering. We are always seeking whatever in the same way we are always thinking, always breathing. 1 Seeking to get what we don’t have: Material stuff, a fruitful emotional/affective environment, peace of mind, control, vacation, […]
Stressors are everywhere, permanent, intermittent, subtle, violent, sudden, slow, chronic, acute. They come from our past via memory, from the present, and even from the unknown future. They are mostly hidden in our subconscious or fully exposed consciously. Stressors are defined as events, situations, or people that are perceived as out of our control or […]
Being in the “NOW: a Zen Dharma icon Thich Nhat Hanh is calling “NOW” a miracle, E. Tolle the “Power of Being.” Being in the moment or in the “Now” is critical as far as Zen philosophy and its practice are concerned. Why that?First reason: to experience our “original self” through the current genuine reality […]
Towards Equanimity to Serenity: a Zen journey. With our waves of stressors, multi-tasking, and information overload -real and false-, finding and maintaining a sanctuary of proper mental balance and calmness is almost impossible to reach, and yet critical to achieve. This is affecting not only adults but also kids. While facing stressors, Zen serenity, a […]
