Archived Posts
Continued Unrelenting Effort – June 16, 2012 Meditation
Opening – Podcast – February 18, 2019
Chapter III: Part 3 – Rejoice
Chapter III provides me with many different inspirational passages which have defined my practice of the Lotus Sutra and how I have tried to encourage others. I am using page 81 from the Murano 3rd edition translation of the Lotus Sutra. You may have by now noticed a trend or theme in my choices so far. Mostly I have selected passages which have allowed me to highlight my joy of practice. This is perhaps a…
Chapter III: Part 2 – Peaceful as the Sea
In this passage we have Shariputra telling the Buddha about how confused he was, about how perplexed, and even afraid. He had begun to suspect that Mara was impersonating his beloved teacher, his doubt had become so great. As a teacher I have had people react to me in similar and even harsher ways when I’ve not made myself clear and my message has become confusing. There have been times too, as a student when…
Chapter III: Part 1 – Greatest Joy
The first time I heard a recounting of this chapter from the Lotus Sutra the story teller had Shariputra leaping with joy upon learning that he too would become a Buddha. That image up leaping joyfully has stayed with me through many years. Those exact words do no appear in any translation of the sutra, yet I don’t feel it is inaccurate. Some of the words used to describe the emotional condition of Shariputra are,…
Human
Over the past three years, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and the GoodPlanet Foundation have gathered more than 2,000 interviews in 70 countries, while capturing portraits and aerial photographs. Human explores fundamental themes—Justice, Tolerance, Poverty, War, Happiness, and more—and each chapter includes excerpts from interviews and essays written by eminent journalists and human rights activists. The book will launch simultaneously with the movie, which will be distributed worldwide for free, with screenings at the United Nations in New…