Keeping within the school?

Hello Sangha,

I have been considering a question for a little while regarding "keeping within the tradition" of our specific flavor of Buddhism inspired by the discussion under Mujin's "study" thread active recently. My main question is, to what degree should one keep to works "within" the tradition, i.e written by Soto zen authors and adjacent, and to what degree is it advisable to consider other teachings as well? My reason for asking is that since some...

Hi, I'm looking for websites that sell Buddhist items that are a bit cheaper than Google searches show.(Cloths, statues,etc). I searched for Buddha statues and saw some nice ones but they were priced hundreds of Dollars. I figure some of you may know sites that specialize in these kind of items for much less prices, that's why I ask. Thanks...

Today is Ash Wednesday (at least in this time zone, in this now) and it always was a meaningful day for me, to see so many out and about, many in business suits, in restaurants, on the subway and streets, going through their day with ashes on their foreheads.

A finger dips into the ashes. A cross is drawn upon the forehead. “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Nothing to argue with here.

What is this body? A gathering of earth, water,...

Silence. The complete absence of sound. Yet, if one has never experienced sound, what to speak of its absence?

Language can oftentimes be that which frees us, and that which imprisons us. A philosophy teacher I once had in college said that we are stuck within a cage of language but we can reach through its bar and touch that that language could only ever glimpse at.

There are words I thought I understood by virtue of knowing a language only to encounter those and to be...

Edit: There have been four translation updates since the original post

Hello folks!

For a while I have wanted to grab a handful of Heart Sutra translations and lay them out to make comparing them easier. They don’t match perfectly line for line, but it should be easy enough to dig into regardless. If there is another version that anyone knows that isn't overly complicated, I would be happy to edit and update to add it in with the others.
I can send a pdf if anyone...

I currently work in an organization that provides food, shelter and aid to those experiencing homelessness here in NYC. And during my time here, some of the more frequent comments made by those who come to volunteer and serve the meals is that helping the homeless and helping those in need makes me reflect on how good I have it in my life, and how I should be more grateful because at least I do not have to be on the other side of this serving table (paraphrasing the comments, but this is general...

I am currently reading the book, "Living by Vow" by Okumura. He mentions quite often about the practice and study of Buddhism and Dharma. What is there to study regarding these? Sutra? Books? I'd like to deepen my practice of Zen, just curious what the author may mean by stating to study as well as practice Shikantaza.

Gassho,

Mujin

SatTodayLAH

I wonder about Meditation styles and forms of Buddhism. I have read books like "The miracle of mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hahn and "Zen mind beginners mind" by Suzuki. I have formed the belief that being in the present moment and dropping attachments is a major starting point. Also the teachings and writings of Buddhism are important though I don't study them alot.
Vipassana meditation seems to be more effective for me. Counting breaths, noticing thoughts without...

The First Gate

Right belief is a gate of Dharma Illumination for (with it) the steadfast mind is not broken.

Belief:
an opinion or conviction: confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof.


May we, together with all beings
Realize and nuture right belief
So that our mind and intention may be strengthened

仁道 生開 - Jindo Shokai "Open to life in a benevolent way" ...