“What is healthy sexuality? This question I’m investigating with my group of High School age teenagers in Clouds in Water Zen Center’s T.R.U.S.T. program. Even at my old age, it’s … Continue reading The Paradoxes of the married Zen Priest
Blog posts
Do not misuse Sexuality
This is one of Buddhism grave precepts. It’s really quite an important one because of the enormous power and drive of our sexual urges. This power is what makes sex … Continue reading Do not misuse Sexuality
Entering Mindfulness of Feelings
Liberation through Feelings These are notes from Chapter 11 in Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness. The purpose of these teaching is freeing the mind from suffering. It is about liberation not … Continue reading Entering Mindfulness of Feelings
The Corpse in Decay
These are notes on the end of Chapter 10, mindfulness of physical characteristics, in Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness. The last section of mindfulness of the body is the contemplation of … Continue reading The Corpse in Decay
Mindfulness of “I am”
Continuing to study Mindfulness by Joseph Goldstein. These are notes on the middle part of Chapter 10, “Mindfulness of physical characteristics” “Conceit” in its Buddhist usage, refers to the deeply … Continue reading Mindfulness of “I am”
Post Election Practices #2
I have been studying and writing again about Jizo Bodhisattva. Again and again, this archetypal energy inspires me. I found it particularly inspiring in helping me practice during the current … Continue reading Post Election Practices #2
Mindfulness of the elements
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, the second half of Chapter 9, Mindfulness of activities. The elements Again, monks, one reviews this same body, however it is placed, … Continue reading Mindfulness of the elements
Mindfulness of Physical Characteristics
These are notes taken from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness. These are the first section from Chapter 10, Mindfulness of physical Characteristics. We study the body to take us beyond the … Continue reading Mindfulness of Physical Characteristics
Mindfulness of Activities
This is a continuation of notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, Chapter 9: Mindfulness of activities: Again, monks, when going forward and returning one acts clearly knowing; when looking ahead … Continue reading Mindfulness of Activities
Mindfulness of body postures #2 – selflessness
Continuing the study and notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, Chapter 8, the second half. Mindfulness of postures can support the understanding of the three characteristics. Impermanence, anicca Dukkha, suffering … Continue reading Mindfulness of body postures #2 – selflessness
Mindfulness of body postures – Working with fear and dread
These are notes taken from Joseph Goldstein’s book Mindfulness, Chapter 8: Mindfulness of Postures Again, monks, when walking, one knows “I am walking”; when standing, one knows “I am standing”; … Continue reading Mindfulness of body postures – Working with fear and dread
Post Election Practices
Someone from the sangha asked me how to do tonglen in the circumstances that we are presently facing. To practice tonglen in a crisis is quite radical and hard to … Continue reading Post Election Practices
Mindfulness of Breathing #2
These are my notes from studying the end of Chapter 7 in Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness.” They are the second half of Mindfulness of Breathing. In the Satipatthana sutta, there … Continue reading Mindfulness of Breathing #2
Mindfulness of Breathing #1
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness.” This is the first part of Chapter 7 – Mindfulness of Breathing. This sutra has many avenues to take that will lead … Continue reading Mindfulness of Breathing #1
Abiding Independently and the Bahiya Sutta
These are notes taken from studying Joseph Goldstein’s book, “Mindfulness.” This is the last part of chapter 6. The last sentence of the refrain is: And one abides independent, not … Continue reading Abiding Independently and the Bahiya Sutta
On Establishing the continuity of Mindfulness
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book, “Mindfulness.” These notes are from the first half of the chapter on Bare Knowing and the Continuity of Mindfulness. Bare Knowledge is to … Continue reading On Establishing the continuity of Mindfulness
Satipatthanas sutta refrain
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness.” These notes are from Chapter 5 on Contemplating the Four Foundations. There is a refrain that occurs 13 times in the sutra. … Continue reading Satipatthanas sutta refrain
Concentration – The Collected Nature of Mind
These are notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness”. It is the last of the section about the four qualities of mind: ardency, clearly knowing, mindfulness and concentration. One of the … Continue reading Concentration – The Collected Nature of Mind
Mindfulness, the Gateway to Wisdom
Continuing with notes from Joseph Goldstein’s “Mindfulness” book. We are working with the section on the four qualities of mind: Ardency, Clearly knowing, mindfulness, and concentration. Mindfulness is much more … Continue reading Mindfulness, the Gateway to Wisdom
Clearly knowing
Notes from Joseph Goldstein’s book “Mindfulness; a practical guide to awakening” Clearly knowing is one of the four qualities of mind: Ardency, Clearly knowing, mindfulness, and concentration. Clearly knowing – … Continue reading Clearly knowing