December 12th, 2007 · 1 Comment
For over 20 years, all denominations of the Buddhist religion have experienced an unparalleled growth in the United States of America. From the years 1990 to 2007, Buddhism grew 190% and transformed itself into the 4th most practiced religion in America. Today it is estimated that there are over 6.5 million believers in the Buddhist faith.
Although Buddhism spread throughout Asia it remained virtually unknown in the West until modern times.
Knowledge of Buddhism has come through three main channels: Western scholars; the work of philosophers, writers and artists; and the arrival of Asian immigrants who have brought various forms…
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Tags: Dharma Talks, western buddhism
December 9th, 2007 · 3 Comments
Irrigators guide the water,
Fletchers shape the arrow shaft,
Carpenters shape the wood,
Those of good practices control themselves.
– The Buddha
The Buddha said there are five gifts, five great gifts. He said they were long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, from the beginning—not open to suspicion, and will never be open to suspicion. What are these five things?
Abandoning the taking of life. (abstains from taking life)
Abandoning taking what is not freely given. (abstains from stealing)
Abandoning illicit sex. (abstains from illicit or heedless sex)
Abandoning lying. (abstains from lying and untruths)
Abandoning the use
…
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Tags: dharma talk, five precepts, sila, virtue
November 29th, 2007 · 2 Comments
Seeing the lines left in freshly raked sand,
pleased that yet no footprints appear.
I feel the cold window glass upon my fingertips,
while voices try to distract my thoughts.
Chased from one space to another
by my need for solitude.
Often others find a way to intrude
upon my burgeoning compassion.
Until I secret myself away
and find a sheltered corner.
Where I find myself a space,
to center and collect the person I’ve lost.
…
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Tags: Dharma Poetry
October 12th, 2007 · 6 Comments
By now you have all seen the pictures that have been flowing out of Burma. Most of you have heard the stories of the Burmese military prompting a revolt. The protests were in response to a 500% hike in the price of gasoline fuels, but in actuality was just another abuse in a long line of abuses targeting the people of Burma.
Two weeks after the bloody crackdown by Burma’s junta against peaceful demonstrations led by Buddhist monks, the world’s authoritative body, the UN Security Council finally issued a statement on Burma.
The 15-nation council, which previously had been blocked…
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Tags: Current Events
I begin to search
the empty rooms of my memories.
Nothing but dust and decaying veils,
crumbling do I find.
A thought rises and dies,
a silent agony.
Rooms dimly lit, where no happiness rests.
I reach for words,
that simply fall away.
I stretch for meanings,
that elude my tender touch.
…
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Tags: Dharma Poetry
