Equanimity

October 6th, 2008  ·  2 Comments

Dharma Speech delivered to the 10^th Annual Oklahoma Buddhist Conference Held at the Oklahoma City University on October 4^th, 2008

Living in a gulf coast community has its ups and downs.  Just like every community anywhere.  A 650 mile wide hurricane affects an enormous area.  Wherever you travel your senses are overwhelmed by the damage and debris quite evident everywhere.  Had the same storm made its landfall on the east coast of US or Florida or southern Texas or Mexico would the effect be any less?  I do not think so.  Basically the differences would be locality …

AFTER THE STORM

September 22nd, 2008  ·  1 Comment

Evacuation again; Why me?

Living in a gulf coast community has its ups and downs.  Just like every community anywhere.  A 650 mile wide hurricane affects a large area.  The damage and debris is quite evident everywhere you venture.  If the same storm had made its landfall on the east coast of US or Florida or southern Texas or Mexico would the effect be any less?  I do not think so.  The only difference would be locality and people.

Storms and hurricanes are not sent to destroy a people or land for any reason.  They are a natural phenomenon that …

The Significance of the Lotus

August 9th, 2008  ·  1 Comment

“Growing in the mud, yet not smelling of the Mire”

The lotus flower holds a special place for all of us, East and West as  it symbolizes our struggle in this world. A pure and beautiful flower is born in the still waters of the pond underneath the mud, and, when the time comes, it emerges. It grows out of the water and straight toward the sky, opening its petals in the rays of warm sunlight, revealing its natural beauty.  In sharing its fragrance with the world, it leaves the mud far behind.  The large rounded leaves are water-resistant, as …

Thoughts on Anapanasati

July 9th, 2008  ·  2 Comments

Breathe, you are alive! Actually do we need to tell each other to breathe? The breath is automatic. Under most normal situations the breath is just a function of the living breathing person. We do not create or give thought to the fact that we are breathing. If you exert yourself or suffer lung disease you may be more aware of your breath. In meditation we take a look at the ordinary breath as a tool to calm our minds. Under normal condition we do not concentrate our minds upon our breath. It is a function of living. One very …

Buddhist High Holy Days

May 18th, 2008  ·  No Comments

Vesak is the holiest day in Buddhism and a season of special holy significance to all Buddhists around the world. Vesak Full Moon is the holiest of all the full moon days. On this day we celebrate the birth, the Enlightenment, and the death of the Buddha.

The significance of which lies with the Buddha and his universal peace message to mankind.

Birth:

Temples will display a small image of the baby Buddha in front of the altar in a basin filled with water and decorated with flowers, allowing devotees to pour water over the statue; it is symbolic of …