“The main affliction of our modern civilization is that we don’t know how to handle the suffering inside us and we try to cover it up with all kinds of consumption.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh I…
Source: We don’t know how to suffer
Category Archives: Zen
Why?
We who are like children, shrink from pain, but love its causes. We hurt ourselves through our misdeeds. So why should others be the object of our rage? —Arya Shantideva, Bodhicharyavatara, 6.45
Source: Why?
Steadfast
At all times, do not lose courage in your inner awareness; uplift yourself, while assuming a humble position in your outer demeanor. Follow the example of the life and complete liberation of previo…
Source: Steadfast
The root of suffering
Do everything with a mind that lets go. If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will know complete pea…
Source: The root of suffering
Real Monastics
Neither going about naked, nor with matted locks,
nor filthy, nor fasting, nor lying on the ground,
nor smearing oneself with ashes and dust,
nor sitting on the heels in penance,
can purify one who has not overcome doubt.
Even though one be well attired, yet if one is poised,
calm, controlled and established in the holy life,
having set aside violence towards all beings,
one truly is holy, a renunciate, a monastic.
―Buddha Shakyamuni
Canadian Buddhist Monks Buy 600 Pounds of Lobsters from Restaurants, Release Them into the Ocean — Zen Flash
Source: Canadian Buddhist Monks Buy 600 Pounds of Lobsters from Restaurants, Release Them into the Ocean | Oddity Central – Collecting Oddities By Spooky on July 14th, 2016 A group of Buddhist monks from the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society, on Prince Edward Island, recently bought around 600 pounds of live lobsters from various restaurants […]
Where is the truth?
Right and Wrong. A Zen Story.
Right and Wrong via: 101zenstories.org
…..
When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks of meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. During one of these gatherings a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported to Bankei with the request that the culprit be expelled. Bankei ignored the case.
Later the pupil was caught in a similar act, and again Bankei disregarded the matter. This angered the other pupils, who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief, stating that otherwise they would leave in a body.
When Bankei had read the petition he called everyone before him. “You are wise brothers,” he told them. “You know what is right and what is not right. You may go somewhere else to study if you wish, but this poor brother does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if I do not? I am going to keep him here even if all the rest of you leave.”
A torrent of tears cleansed the face of the brother who had stolen. All desire to steal had vanished.
Cause and Effect
Giving food, one gives and later receives strength.
Giving clothes, one gives and later receives beauty.
Giving medicine, one gives and later receives health.
Giving shelter, one gives and later receives protection.
Giving transport, one gives and later receives swift ease.
Giving lamps, one gives and later receives light and sight.
Giving learning, one gives and later receives intelligence.
Giving Dharma, one gives and later receives deathlessness.
Clip from one of my favourite movies: Ghost Dog – Emptiness is Form
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