Enlightenment

Writing for the Reader

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Daiju visited the master Baso in China. Baso asked: What do you seek? “Enlightenment,” replied Daiju. “You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?” Baso asked. Daiju inquired: “Where is my treasure house?” Baso answered: “What you are asking is your treasure house.” Daiju was enlightened! Ever after he urged his friends: “Open your own treasure house and use those treasures.”          –Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones   I begin my book, The Zero Point Agreement with the above story. In opening up to “your own treasure house and using those treasures,” … Continue reading →

Your Lasting Freedom & Happiness

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This fifth “lesson before the lesson” completes the introductory teachings from Nagarjuna, Letters to a Friend, Verse 14 (see past blogs) by Geshe L. Sopa. On Monday I offer the 2nd teaching on Creating the Causes and Conditions of True and Lasting Happiness, a lesson taken from Shantideva, Bodhicaryavatara (chapter 4, verse 18). (My translation of Geshe-la’s words continue to be in blue). My commentary and spiritual writing prompts follow the lesson.  You don’t need spiritual teachings to help you be temporarily happy in this lifetime. For such temporary happiness you don’t need to study or practice the Dharma. If you are hungry, you know … Continue reading →

The Transformative Power of Regret

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This is the fourth piece in the Venerable Geshe Lhundup Sopa’s introductory teachings, the “lessons before the lessons.” We are still on the verse taken from Nagarjuna, Letters to a Friend.  (For first three blogs click back to previous articles.)     “Whosoever was negligent previously But later became attentive and careful, Shines forth like the moon freed from clouds, Just like Nanda, Angulimala, Ajustastru, and Udayana.”                                                —Nagarjuna, Letters to a Friend, Verse 14 (Leslie Kawanura) After his … Continue reading →

Promise Me This

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  This is the third piece in the Venerable Geshe Lhundup Sopa’s introductory teachings, the “lessons before the lessons.” We are still on the verse taken from Nagarjuna, Letters to a Friend.     “Whosoever was negligent previously But later became attentive and careful, Shines forth like the moon freed from clouds, Just like Nanda, Angulimala, Ajustastru, and Udayana.”                                            –Nagarjuna, Letters to a Friend, Verse 14 (Leslie Kawanura)  After his teaching, I offer up a commentary, some spiritual journaling prompts, … Continue reading →

A Skeptic Awakening at the Foot of One Sage

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I consider myself a willing skeptic at the feet of many sages and yoginis. I am willing to explore and to reach for meaning while being given spiritual instruction. During various teachings, rituals and empowerments that I attended over the years at Deer Park in Oregon Wisconsin, I was deeply inspired by the Venerable Geshe Lhundub Sopa’s introductory teachings. I admit that these “lessons before the lessons” often held more meaning for me than the primary teachings. I was able then, and now, to use these teachings in a more practiced way, integrating them into my daily life. After hearing … Continue reading →

The Spiritual Writer

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Sometimes the word “spiritual” trips us up. That can be a good thing – means we may be slowed down enough to ask, just what do we mean by spiritual? Religion often tells us what our spiritual experiences should be as well as how to have them. We take all sorts of actions in the name of some god or religious belief. This then causes uncounted suffering on people, animals and nature. So, I would steer away from organized religion in its attempt to arrange your heart and mind, and in its often insistence that you stay in line (or … Continue reading →

Tonglen: Transforming Pain into Love

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  “Tonglen is the quickest way to enlightenment.”  His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Madison Wisconsin, June 2008   This is the seventh week of this series of meditation classes. Next week will be the final of this series. Much of my material, okay, all of my material is in reality borrowed wisdom. This week’s wisdom is borrowed from Lama Surya Das and his book: “Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment.” I highly recommend this and any of his books to further your practice of mind training and meditation. I imagine that what the Dalai Lama says is true, that the quick … Continue reading →