When we read about Chinese or Japanese Buddhism we come across passages that say such things as that the master “eats when hungry, drinks when thirsty, sleeps when tired.” and the like. We might then think, “what is so different about that?” or we mi
Read more…The most famous classic of Chan Buddhism (Chinese Zen) is the Platform Sutra 六祖壇經. The sutra presents the teachings of Huineng 慧能 (638-713) [However, the text went through many revisions and the ten chapter edition that is currently taken as authorit
Read more…The following is my understanding of the main thrust of early Buddhism.
If we start from the “three signs”, I read them as saying that all samskaras are impermanent and troublesome whereas all Dharmas are non-self. The meaning here is that self, (i.e
Read more…Le pouvoir propre, jiriki, « est le fait de croire que nous pouvons atteindre notre salut par nos seuls efforts » (peu importe la manière dont on conçoit cela). Toutes les écoles bouddhistes cherchent à détruire ce genre d’arrogance, mais elles s’acq
Read more…Commentary upon the Summary of Faith and Practice, part two.
Text: wishing to practise a religious life
A Foundation
The wish to practice a religious life is the foundation of meaning and happiness. Nowadays, many people have no idea about living a
Commentary on the Summary of Faith and Practice, Part One
Text: For those having a karmic affinity with Amitabha Buddha
This is the first phrase of the Summary. It tells us for whom this text is written and to whom it applies. An implication is that
A correspondent recently wrote to me as follows:
"When you talk to me about grief you never say stuff like 'This is all just a figment of your deluded conditioning. Grief isn’t real. Well, it’s only real in relative terms anyway. If you could just
Read more…A view that I encounter repeatedly in Buddhist circles is the notion that in order to be enlightened one needs to have a correct idea of… emptiness, interbeing, oneness, the real nature of Amida, nonduality… you name it.
One is told that when one full
I recently read an article that argued that (a) there is no necessary relationship between meditation and mysticism and that (b) the purpose of meditation is purely the cultivation of positive moral traits. Given in support of this was the observatio
Read more…The attempt to fit Buddhism into the secular, technical, reductionist mindset of modernity often has the effect of turning the matter on its head. Thus, we now find Western schools of practice – I hesitate to call them schools of Buddhism – in which
Read more…Each school of Buddhism has its favoured texts and its favoured practices. Thus, for instance, the Soto Zen Shu favours the Diamond and Heart Sutras, (and was once based on the Lankavatara) and emphasises the practice of zazen, while the Pureland sch
Read more…Publicado por David Brazier el 5 de septiembre de 2017 en el grupo “Budismo”
Esta es una lista de las diecisiete formas principales de condicionamiento que dan forma a nuestras vidas. Se incluyen los factores que tienden a mantenernos atrapados en
Read more…Here is a list of seventeen major forms of conditioning that shape our lives. Included are the factors that tend to keep us trapped in samsara and also those that make an escape possible.
Root Relation This refers to the presence in or absence from t
Read more…Mindfulness is remembrance of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This is most easily done by saying and hearing the Buddha's name. Hence the practice of reciting the name has become widespread in the Buddhist world. Reciting the name when something happens,
Read more…Continuing the commentary upon Summary of Faith and Practice
TEXT: wishing to practise a religious life in truly simple faith,
Truly Simple Faith
Truly simple faith is a precious jewel that is rarely found. We are talking here abpout a direct trust
Read more…Authenticity & Freedom
I have been reading some existentialism. One of the key concepts in existentialism is authenticity. This goes with another key idea, which is freedom. These ideas reached a high pitch in the work of Sartre who had lived through
Continuing the commentary on the Summary of Faith and Practice - we are working backwards toward the beginning at the moment...
TEXT: freeing themselves of sophistication and attachment to all forms of cleverness,
COMMENTARY
Sophistication
The term
Read more…The Problem
Throughout the history of Buddhism there have been controversies about the ideas of irreversibility and of determinism.These are to do with the inevitability (or not) of future arrival at nirvana, either for individuals or for all beings.
Read more…Summary of Faith & Practice Commentary
TEXT: the method of opening oneself to Amitabha's grace
COMMENTARY:
The Buddha has vowed to receive whoever turns to him in faith and calls his name. There are many ways of calling the name. Literally, we can sa
Read more…Publicado por David Brazier el 8 de mayo de 2017 en el grupo de “Budismo”
Como continuación de los comentarios de Recopilación de Práctica y Fe
COMENTARIO
La fe firme es Anshin. An-shin significa literalmente “el corazón-mente en paz”. Se puede hab
Read more…