Balance Part II – Nyo Ze Hon Matsu Ku Kyo To – July 26, 2018

The phrase nyoze honmatsu ku kyo to translates to their equality as such despite these differences.  In other words, all of our being, the physical and the non-physical aspects, all are affected by one another.  When one area of our self is out of whack then so too will be the other aspects.  While we may not at first perceive the manifestation in things such as our appearance, nature, or entity we certainly can notice…

Continue reading

Letter to a Student – written from Paris

Good morning A., Today is my last full day in Paris, tomorrow I fly back to the US. For me this has been a long trip, the longest time away from home since my graduation from the Shingyo Dojo in Japan in 2008 and the time I lived in Japan. I miss my bed, my food, and my schedule. The trip has been fruitful on many levels. In Paris I’ve seen many new sights. Each…

Continue reading

Incarcerated Lotus – #9 – Anger

Anger is one of the Ten Worlds and, therefore, a very real part of our whole self. The question for us as Buddhists is not to eliminate anger; that is impossible. I believe we serve ourselves well, and thereby improve our lives if we examine when we are the master of anger and when anger is our master. When anger so consumes you that you act without thinking or, act in ways you would not…

Continue reading

Incarcerated Lotus – #8 – Vulnerability & Safety

In this installment I present two sections from the chapter tentatively titled Vulnerability. Vulnerability Vulnerability is a subject that I feel is important for you and me to consider. Much of what I feel important in Buddhist practice is about realizing we are all vulnerable, we all have hurts and pains, we all have our own areas of brokenness. Learning to be vulnerable can be healing and empowering. It may sound counterintuitive to say being…

Continue reading