Outside-In
There is another perspective. It is one of appreciating our “external causes” and realizing their benefits. As we listen to the teachings and interact within a Sangha, our perspectives and viewpoints begin to soften. Buddhism is something that is now happening to us rather than for us. We are receiving benefits rather than achieving milestones, rank or status.
Human Beings, Feeling Beings
What one person finds delightful, another may see as disgusting. We use these differences to dividing ourselves into groups, but how can we come together in a climate where people are so divided?
A Fresh Way to Look at the Four Noble Truths
I was happily working my way through my online video course at Everyday Buddhist, when Jon Turner Sensei pointed out that the Buddha saw the human condition as a “seeing problem” causing a person to “not feel right“. As a practicing physician, the parallel with medical diagnosis and treatment was intriguing to me, and it gave me a new way to look at the Four Noble Truths.
A Path to Universal Liberation - Part 3
In a world increasingly marked by division, whether due to socioeconomic status, gender, race, or political beliefs, Amida’s vow to liberate all beings without distinction is especially relevant.
Batman and Buddha
In a world that often feels like Gotham, we can choose to be Batman. We can also find wisdom in the compassion of Amida Buddha, choosing lovingkindness over retaliation. We can transform our pain into wisdom, our struggles into strengths. We learn that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a bridge to human connection, to compassion, to understanding. We have a choice in how we view our difficult moments.
Shinran as an Innovative Pure Land Master (Part 3)
Shinran’s teachings are not just an important part of Buddhist history; they carry profound relevance for contemporary society. In a world that continues to grapple with issues of inequality, exclusion, and division, Shinran’s message of universal accessibility to awakening offers a beacon of hope and transformation.