The lotus is one of Buddhism’s most recognizable symbols of enlightenment and is important in many Buddhist traditions. According to legend, everywhere the baby Buddha stepped, a lotus flower bloomed. The famed Lotus Sutra is one of the most important texts of Mahayana Buddhism and is the foundation of the Pure Land schools. Because the lotus grows in muddy water, it [...]
What are the Two Truths?
What is the relationship between absolute reality-whatever that may be-and the relative world we inhabit? That question is at the heart of all religions. Mahayana Buddhism’s answer is called the two truths. Relative Truth Relative truth includes all the dualistic phenomena- ourselves, other beings, material objects, thoughts, emotions, concepts-that make up our lives in [...]
“Lincoln in the Bardo” is not your usual ghost story
We talk to George Saunders about his Man Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo, which blurs the line between the living and the dead. Lincoln in the Bardo, by renowned American short story writer (and Buddhist) George Saunders, is surely the first major novel to use the Tibetan word bardo in the title. The Lincoln who is in the bardo—the realm between death and [...]
Can I practice meditation on the go?
I have very little free time to meditate, so instead of taking the time to sit at home, is it okay if I take opportunities to meditate during the day, such as when I'm waiting in line or sitting on the bus? Ideally, spiritual practice is something we do all the time, because every moment is an opportunity for mindfulness and compassion. But there’s no substitute for [...]
What is San Francisco Zen Center?
San Francisco Zen Center is one of the oldest and largest Buddhist communities in the United States. It is part of the Soto school of Zen and has produced many of America’s leading Buddhist teachers and writers, such as Sojun Mel Weitsman, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, the late Blanche Hartman, and Tenshin Reb Anderson. San Francisco Zen Center, often just called “Zen Center,” was [...]
What should I know before accepting a guru?
I’m interested in Tibetan Buddhism, but I’m uncomfortable about the principle of guru devotion, which seems hierarchical and potentially exploitive. What should I know before accepting a guru? All schools of Buddhism celebrate the teacher, who helps us to awaken and eases our suffering. How could you not honor such a person? But the teacher-student relationship in [...]
How to Drink a Mindful Cup of Tea
A cup of tea or coffee is a nice break. Drinking it mindfully is a real break. Joseph Emet teaches us this five-step practice. Here is a homemade koan for drinking tea: Who is enjoying this tea? Ask yourself this question with each sip. When you encounter that person, let them go. You need a break from their story now and then. Otherwise your tea break will not really [...]
What does “Zen” really mean?
I see the word “Zen” tossed around a lot these days. It seems to mean having a relaxing, spa-like experience, or “being in the moment.” Is that what Zen’s really about? This is the Whopper-with-cheese of Dharma-Burgers, as our editor Rod Meade Sperry dubbed appropriations of Buddhism for marketing or commercial purposes. Recently, “Zen” has become a synonym for relaxing, [...]
See the Universe in a Sunflower
To be or not to be… that is not the question, says Thich Nhat Hanh. Beyond the choice between being and nonbeing is the reality of interbeing. Listen Shariputra, all phenomena bear the mark of emptiness; their true nature is the nature of no being, no nonbeing… —The Heart Sutra (Thich Nhat Hanh translation) I live in Plum Village, in the Dordogne region of southwest [...]
What are the Five Precepts?
How can Buddhists know if their life is an ethical one? By keeping the five precepts, a set of guidelines for those who wish to do no harm. Some Buddhists follow them as literally as they can and others take a more situational approach, guided by compassion and what creates the most benefit. There are many different sets of precepts, but common to all Buddhists are five [...]
