Ignore ignorance will cause suffering There is a big difference between ignorance in its common sense and its meaning in Zen Buddhist sense. In the common sense of the word, ignorance is being unaware, lacking in general knowledge or understanding. This common kind of ignorance lead to division, discrimination, derision, hate and conflict when […]
The mind watcher In this talk, brain and mind form a single entity. Using a computer as analogy the brain is the hardware and the mind the software until science will prove otherwise. Brain-mind is a biocomputer in which the electrical current is made of ions. In the following, I will use only the […]
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 […]
