I Am Not the Buddha And …

Portland Buddhist Priory Posted on by

(To view the February 2019 newsletter where this was first published click here.)

In an early Journal of Shasta Abbey (before it was the Journal of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives) Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett published an article called  “How to Find Kanzeon in Hell”. In it, she says “I am not the Cosmic Buddha and, there is nothing in me that is not of the Cosmic Buddha.” At other times she would say “I am not God, and there is nothing in me that is not of God”.

Only a very few of us might think to ourselves “I am God!” (fewer still might actually say that out loud), so how would this apply to us? While I want Continue reading →

Working With Ideals

Portland Buddhist Priory Posted on by

(To view the January 2019 newsletter where this was first published click here.)

Sambo Kojin’s name means fierce protector of the Three Treasure and he guards the temple and those who practice within. (This image is above the priory front door)

Around Christmas, I was listening to the radio and a story came on about a classical violist, Betty Hauck, who went through the experience of losing a significant part of her hearing. The story itself was interesting and moving and I would recommend listening, if you have the time. But in it, she said something that caught my attention and I want to talk about that. Continue reading →

Devotion

Portland Buddhist Priory Posted on by

(To view the December 2018 newsletter where this was first published click here.)

These persimmons, given recently by a friend, reminded me of a painting called Six Persimmons by the monk, Muqi Fachang or Mu Ch’i Fa-Ch’ang.to a nice pudding which we enjoyed for Thanksgiving

These days, for those of us new to Buddhism, our approach to the Dharma is often through our mental activity: we read and think about the Dharma and we like the ideas; we meditate with all that that entails of mental discipline; we look at our lives through the lens of the precepts etc. And this is excellent. But, there is another dimension Continue reading →