In Zen-Buddhism, Dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a “successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual ‘bloodline’ (kechimyaku) theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself.” The...
GOING FOR REFUGE Going for refuge and taking the precepts is the cornerstone of all the Buddhist paths. It usually becomes a turning point in a person’s life. One where they work toward an ideal – this ideal being shown to us through The Buddha – a...
THE HEART SUTRA The Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokateshvara, while in deep meditative concentration, absorption and curious inquiry, looked deeply into the nature of experience, penetrated fully to the intuitve realization of the emptiness of the skandhas and after...
The Perfect Enlightenment Sutra is one of the most popular and influential sutras in Zen. It was held in the highest regards by some of the greatest Zen Master’s like Zongmi and Chinul. The sutra itself is twelve chapters and the introductory section describes...
“Do you have a Koan?” That was the first question Korean Zen Master, Venerable Hwasun Yangil Sunim asked me. I had heard about Koans before – mainly from books. I didn’t really think they were essential for Zen practice. But here I was, sitting...
A quick and expedient way of awakening… The master takes his staff and points directly to your heart saying, Listen here! This! This! A thousand times this! The seeker is what’s sought. Originally the mind is pristine, vast and expansive like a clear blue...
A young monk tentatively asked the Master, “Teacher, why did Bodhidharma come from the west?” The Master looked out the window and said, “The cypress tree in the courtyard.” The Zen Master whacks his stick against the floor. You’re startled, heart racing, eyes...
The conceptual every day mind is never happy. It always wants something to chew on. It’s a hungry ghost and no matter how much information we feed it the mind will never be satisfied. “Does a dog have buddha-nature?” “Why did Bodhidharma come to China?” “Was the...
Zen is… “A special transmission outside the scriptures, not founded upon words and letters. by pointing directly to one’s mind, It lets one see into one’s own true nature and thus attain buddhahood.” (1) The above statement from Bodhidharma is an...
RED THREAD ZEN – THE TAO OF LOVE, PASSION, AND SEX’ This text addresses some of the most fundamental and delicate religious issues. Therefore, it should be read, quoted and analysed in a mindful way. Most of us have arrived at this particular point in our...
Click to listen to The Awakened Podcast on one of your favourite platforms • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Breaker • Overcast • Pocketcasts • Radio Public • Anchor What is this? Student: Things are happening and things are moving along in my life and...
The Buddha saw clearly. This clear seeing helped him with the direction of his life and then everything became easier because everything became anchored there in that clear seeing. What gave him clear seeing? His burning wish to free all beings. Bodhicitta. Bodhicitta...
Click to listen to The Awakened Podcast on one of your favourite platforms • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Breaker • Overcast • Pocketcasts • Radio Public • Anchor Never Good Enough Student: The thing that I work on the most is just a feeling of not...
Click to listen to The Awakened Podcast on one of your favourite platforms • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Breaker • Overcast • Pocketcasts • Radio Public • Anchor Showing Up to Your Life Any insights revelations challenges frustrations, since the last...
A single fart brings you across the river. Su Dongpo (a famous Buddhist poet) of the Song Dynasty was assigned to an official post at Guazhuo. Across the river, on its southern shore, was Jinshan (Golden Mountain) Temple where Chan Master Foyin presided. One day, Su...
Click to listen to The Awakened Podcast on one of your favourite platforms • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Breaker • Overcast • Pocketcasts • Radio Public • Anchor Click here to download a PDF of the Quan Yin Healing Practice Sadhana Quan Yin Healing...
Preparation Sit comfortably and relax your body. Relax your mind by letting go of or putting aside any other thoughts – of the past or future, people, activities, etc. Decide to keep your attention focused on the meditation for the duration of the session. Motivation...
Click to listen to The Awakened Podcast on one of your favourite platforms • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Breaker • Overcast • Pocketcasts • Radio Public • Anchor I’ll Remember for You Student: Suddenly my ex got stuck on the fact that he...
I prostrate to the self-arisen first Buddha, Changeless Light. In the beginning, Within the vast expanse of the mother of the ground of all, When that ground was distinguished, Sound, light, and rays resounded, appeared, and radiated in a self-arisen manner. Since I,...
