Tag Archives: Counterfeit Dhamma
The Road to Hell Is Paved: The Paradox of the Bodhisattva Vow
I received this question through an email. It seemed like a reasonable question and points that there are teachings in Buddhism that are not terribly Buddhist at all. These distortions of what the Buddha taught are so common that we … Continue reading
Buddhism Without a Buddha
In spite of it being the currency of the Mahayana Movement, getting a strong and hard definition of “emptiness is very difficult. If one asks fifty teachers one gets roughly fifty answers. The word is as vaguely applied as are … Continue reading
Does the Pure Land Have a Starbuck’s?
Nagarjuna urges us not to mistake the finger for the moon. He tells us not to confound words and meaning, that is, not to mistake the secular words that are used to point to ultimate truth for that truth itself. … Continue reading
What’s Wrong With Buddhism?
Traditional versus Secular Buddhism? Do we need secular Buddhism and what does that mean? We have to make a decision on what “Buddhism” means. It’s a shame that the word Buddhism was not copyrighted because now everyone can put the … Continue reading
The Myth of Original Enlightenment
A person has six properties, six media of sensory contact, eighteen considerations, & four determinations. He has been stilled where the currents of construing do not flow. And when the currents of construing do not flow, he is said to … Continue reading
It’s Still True — No One Purifies Another
It is easy to think that Mahāyāna has made it pretty clear that they distinguish between ‘the Buddha’ and ‘Buddha’ as a state of being per se. The problem with referring to ‘Living Buddhas’ and people becoming a Buddha in … Continue reading
The Entrusting Heart
I hate to be a downer but the facts are there is no one who has been born that can avoid sickness, aging, weakness, separation from and death of your loved ones, loss of wealth, and the hate and harm … Continue reading
Afterthoughts About Mahāyāna & Hīnayāna
Because I am a Mahāyāna priest ordained in several lineages it all the propaganda regarding the Mahāyāna movement comes to my eyes or ears almost daily. It seems that many have personal definitions of what Mahāyāna is. The word has … Continue reading
Authentic Buddhism; a Few Scattered Afterthought
Students often ask me about authentic Buddhism. Some Zen teachers claim that their version is the most authentic. Tibetans use the term “authentic” quite liberally when discussing their brand. Pure Land teachers sometimes make the claim as well. Of course, … Continue reading
Afterthoughts About Buddha-Nature
My mind is reeling. I offered to do a workshop. The offer was granted. They gave me the topic of “Buddha Nature.” The material on Buddha Nature is seemingly immense. It is also conflicting because there is no one definition … Continue reading
Fists Full of Sand 