Tag Archives: religion

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Many of us in this sangha are “of a certain age” (in normal societal jargon, “senior citizens”), and we are constantly facing the challenges associated with aging. Some of you haven’t reached this stage yet, but you will. Allow us to share with you some insights from Willigis Jaeger, the founder ofContinue reading “Willigis Jaeger on aging”

[AUDIO AND TEXT] We see in Zen Buddhist literature innumerable references to “emptiness.” In the Heart Sutra, we have, “Form is exactly emptiness. Emptiness is exactly form.” Ad infinitum (or for some of us, it’s ad nauseum). So, what exactly is it they’re talking about? What is Emptiness anyway? What does it mean when theyContinue reading “emptiness: what is it?”

[AUDIO AND TEXT] A few weeks ago, I brought before you some excerpts from a conversation between a particle physicist and a Buddhist monk dealing with emptiness and impermanence. They talked about string theory and other scientific propositions. At the end, I said I was willing to accept a characterization of emptiness that could beContinue reading “emptiness—another take”

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Each evening as we close our meditation session, we recite the Great Vows for All. These are the vows of the Bodhisattvas – those who promise to delay their own full enlightenment until all beings have been enlightened. Kind of like Jesus. Here is Robert Aitken Roshi’s translation of the Great Vows:Continue reading “Aitken Roshi and the great vows for all”