In a previous post on the difference between happiness and contentment , I noted that chasing after 'happiness' can lead to a delu...

One of the biggest challenges many Zen Buddhists face is to maintain the disciplined mindstate we achieve during zazen in everyday life. D...

This strip is not focused on Zen as a rule, but the humor of this one is a bulls-eye if you practice. Laughed out loud when I read it, and t...

Many forms and rituals can be used in Zen The latest issue of Bodhidharma magazine is dedicated to exploring form versus practice, that...

With the Supreme Court coming down in favor of gay marriage, I don't think it's exaggerating to say this year's Gay Pride takes ...

Heading into the finish I have kept running since I started over the Christmas holidays (excepting a week or two where the temperature n...

A couple years ago, I wrote a post about Diabelli's Serenata Concertante op. 105 , because I often play it right at the start of Sprin...

Nansen said, "Mind is not the Buddha; reason is not the way." The Buddha in the tree at a temple in Thailand (photo from the b...

Once I've worked through a koan, I move on to the next one naturally enough. In this case, I received a big surprise when I read koan ...

A monk asked Baso, "What is the Buddha?" Base answered, "No mind, no Buddha." The first thing that must be noted abo...

Temple wall painting of the Buddha In today's society, too much emphasis is placed on evaluating whether we agree or disagree with...

photo: Leh Ladakh Tourism A non-Buddhist philosopher said to the Buddha, "I do not ask for words; I do not ask for non-words."...

Trail to Taisan summit (photo by Scott on summitpost.org) A monk asked an old woman, "What is the way to Taisan?" The old woma...

Gawking at a massive meteorite at the MoNH I've been to the Big Apple a few times over the years, but it was always very briefly and...

While I listen to all kinds of music, at any given point in my life there is usually one genre I most gravitate to. Over the past year, I...

I'm not much of a believer in New Year's Resolutions or for celebrating the New Year in general. While I certainly don't mind ...

I know very little about Anais Nin other than her fame for her journals, that her life involved many famous artists and writers, and that ...

Born to run? For a long time, I had this fantasy of doing a triathlon someday. The idea is attractive because - aside from being a reall...

As every year, here are pictures from our annual holiday bash. Thanks to everyone who came and made it - as always - a special way to celebr...

Zen Master Baso Daibai asked Baso, "What is the Buddha?"  Baso answered, "This very mind is the Buddha." My first ...

Given the long breaks between Stevie Nicks' studio albums over the last two decades, I never expected that only three years would pass...