QUESTION: What is specific to the Amidist approach to the nembutsu that might distinguish it from the approach of other similar schools?
SHORT ANSWER: Nothing
LONG ANSWER: Nembutsu is refuge. Taking refuge is the core mystical act that defines Buddhi
Read more…The genetic difference between a man and a woman is greater than that between a man and a male chimpanzee or that between a woman and a female chimpanzee...
Latest Research Into X Chromosome
Brings Startling Discoveries
By Robert Lee Hotz
The Scotsm
We had a quiet day. Did some shopping for garden tools and found a nice local shop. Bought a small statue of Aphrodite too. Nice encounters around the temple. Nothing special to report.
Read more…Christmas Shopping: Today we took the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. I had several people to buy for and, of course, there were some I knew what I wanted to buy and some for whom I hadn't a clue. However, the gods were with us. The first
QUESTION: If everyone is equal in the assuredness of their place in Pureland, does this not discourage people from efforts to behave nobly (e.g. following the Noble Eightfold Path)? How does this relate to the Buddha’s teaching of the Four Noble Trut
Read more…QUESTION:
1. How do we differentiate between self-care, self-help and self-power?
a. Isn't it important to do our best to look after our health to respect the gift of life and to prevent the burden of our care falling to others?
b. If learning s
The source for this is from http://www.boredpanda.com/diary-of-a-volatile-14/
I am wondering if, with the advent of "political correctness", discussing relations between the sexes in a realistic way is still possible. It feels like a minefield in which no matter what one says there will be those who, whether they agree or not,
Massimo wrote...... This Serapis space is very interesting. I was wandering if it would be possible to dedicate a corner of it to group practices that are not explicitly "therapeutic" but have very much to do with curing and healing as they help peop
Read more…http://racinesdelapresence.com/les-racines-de-la-presence-quest-ce-que-cest/
Racines de la Presence is a project for spiritual aid and accompaniment (accompagnement & relation d’aide spirituelle) based upon the work and teachings of Hélène Lémery, wh
Read more…http://www.yogi-ling.net/Oasis/oasisdelonguevie.htm
Oasis de Longue Vie is a residence for persons of Buddhist faith in later years of life. In effect, the Oasis group are our neighbours, being situated only a couple of villages away from La Ville au
Read more…Earlier this week I was giving a seminar called "Beyond Carl Rogers". Rogers was a humanistic psychotherapist who had been inspired in some way by exposure to Eastern ideas. Western psychotherapy all the way back to William James, has benefitted by s
Read more…It was a delight to join in with sangha in morning devotions at the Amida Mandala Temple. Then, after breakfast, we headed off to the Midlands for the day. I had some business to attend to in Narborough and then we went to the house of my daughter in
Read more…Today we spent the morning in Watford having discussions with our friend Susthama mostly on the topic of what it is like living outside of or on the edge of conventional society, and the compromises that one has to make in order to participate or sur
Read more…Today I led a day workshop at the Metanoia Institute in London on the theme "Beyond Carl Rogers".
COURSE TOPIC: Carl Rogers advanced a highly influential theory of counselling and psychotherapy and was himself an exemplar of his own method. On the on
Today we went into London. I had a meeting which we had arranged in central London and spent two hours there discussing Buddhist psychotherapy. It was a happy meeting covering a lot of ground. Then, being in town, we browsed some bookshops and purcha
Read more… This evening I am speaking on the topic Buddhism & the Brain.
Currently there is considerable interest in the dialogue between Buddhism and science, a dialogue that was originally begun by the Dalai Lama and has led to a number of very popular inte
On full moon day, visits to friends with discussions mostly about love and relationships. Does love have to involve jealousy and possessiveness? Are freedom and connection compatible? Do relationships go through predictable stages? How do we deepen l
Read more…