Are you “awake” or close to “awakening”? Please note: This is a very rough, non-scientific and limited “awakening inventory” that may help you or not to assess your journey. . Each sentence may be seen as a marker as where you stand. This is art 1 of 2. Score the following statements as: Strongly disagree=1 […]
The Zen 3 seals 1) Impermanence: While dying the Buddha was asked by his head monk Ananda: “ What is the most important message from your 50 years of teaching?” He replied“ Everything is transient. Live your life accordingly” Indeed, nothing lasts, everything is changing non-stop. In fact, an […]
The four jewels or “divine states” The Buddha called the 4 jewels “divine states”. It’s important to understand that they are not emotions but rather daily attitude towards self and others. It takes practice and dedication to establish these 4 states of mind. One cannot simply make up in her/his mind that we will be kind, […]
The mirage of ongoing happiness You will never find the word happiness in Zen literature. It is a Western dream even included in the US Constitution. It is a positive emotion and, like any positive or negative emotions it comes and goes. I identify 2 types of happiness based on their origins external or […]
Taking your suffering for a walk Few years ago, my Zen Master Yangil Sunim (Sunim means teacher) asked me: “Ji Gong, how often do you practice suffering”. This is a classical Zen question and, like a Koan, it sounds incomprehensible, paradoxal, illogical and even stupid. The purpose of this kind of questions is to […]
The A,B,C of mindfulness meditation In practicing mindfulness, always start as a new beginning every time, that is start without knowing anything. When you take away everything that you know, you are left with pure awareness, breathing and compassion. Apply the same approach regarding your life: each day is a new […]
Interpersonal Relationships – A Zen Perspective Interpersonal relationships are relationships between you and the people that you contact during your daily lives; your spouse, your children, your siblings, your colleagues and the people outside your own sphere. Let us examine how the relationships are born, are developed, and how they may impact your daily lives. […]
From foe to friend A Zen perspective As we struggle with our emotional ego, we are developing mental habits that feed our pain. When we find ourselves suffering, we can notice the familiar negative feelings of guilt, shame blame, and anger. These are types of judgments that we pass on others and that others impose […]
Sensorial practice against distraction Staying focused can be hard, especially in an age when there are tons of distractions around you such cell phone and emails being the main culprits. Obliged to pay attention to something can be perceived being routine, dull or even boring. It can be challenging for our mind and body […]
Core human drives Humans differ from other animals in one very important respect: we are subjects to core desires which are infinite and will never be fully gratified. These preconscious and conscious core drives could keep us in a state of restlessness and other kind of negative physical and mental thirst. I will […]
