Ohigan – Renewal – March 23, 2014 Dharma Talk

Good morning. Today is our first Lotus Sutra service since the Fall Equinox, our first service of Spring 2014. For those of us who live in the Carolinas the weather has been very delightful lately with mild temperatures and a lot of sunshine. Today the weather will be dramatically cooler and rain is supposed to start. While out walking my dog over the past few days I have had plenty of chances to stop and…

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Buddhism and Money #6 – March 13, 2014

Essentially money is simply a means of exchange. You could think of it in terms of the middle-man between your means of earning and the things you buy. Money is the middle point between your working on a spreadsheet for your boss and the next vacation you take to some exotic location. Money in your pocket or bank account was once your work, your effort, your employment at whatever company or industry you work for.…

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Four Sufferings – Old Age – March 11, 2014 Meditation

“The triple world is not peaceful. It is like the burning house. It is full of sufferings. It is dreadful. There are always the sufferings Of birth, old age, disease and death. They are like flames Raging endlessly.” Lotus Sutra, Chapter III Having covered birth we now move to old age. Sometimes when explanations of these sufferings is given there is another step included which covers growth before old age. I think that as I…

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Praising the Buddha – March 9, 2014 Dharma Talk

Good morning to you all, thank you for joining with me today to celebrate the Lotus Sutra by reciting portions of Chapter II and Chapter XVI as well as harmoniously chanting the sacred title. Today is the first day of Daylight Savings Time here in the United States. For most of us the next few days or even weeks will be challenging as our bodies adjust to the change in time. I know I am…

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