How we see someone is how we hear them. Upaka – did not know Siddhartha. had no chance to get to know him and no patience to either. He saw what he wanted to see. And maybe that was a reflection of himself as well. (Upaka scoffed at the Buddha when Shakyamuni...
Radiant Jewel Samadhi – Unlocked by Koan Chitta Mani Rupam Citta: Consciousness Mani: Jewel, radiant, precious, Rupam: Show, way, loveliness, play When you feel you have fallen off the ledge of life and are tumbling toward the hell realms As if your life...
Shakti Bija Mantras Besides the mantric power of letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, there is another series of powerful bija or single-syllable mantras, which consist of several vowels or consonants. These come under the term ‘Shakti mantras’, as they are commonly used...
The first time I heard about the Chinese Legend of the Red String of Fate and Soulmates was in Richard Websters book called “Soul Mates: Understanding Relationships Across Time“ (Click link to read my review) In his Soul Mates book he tells us that, “According to...
A person once came to me who was studying Christianity but who had run into a stone wall in his study. He could make no further progress at the time, so he came to me to try Zen meditation. We discussed this and that, and I finally said to him, “If you wish to...
BASSUI’S LETTER TO THE LAYMAN IPPO (HOMMA SHOKEN) You are meeting him face to face, but who is he? Anything you say will be wrong. And if you hold your tongue, you will be equally wrong. Who is he, then? On top of a flagpole, a cow gives birth to a calf. If you come...
Click to listen to The Awakened Podcast on one of your favourite platforms • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Breaker • Overcast • Pocketcasts • Radio Public • Anchor Leaving Home – Coming Home Student: So I’ve had a challenge. Zen master e: Hi!...
The Charyapada – Mystic Poems of Eighth Century India Charyapada 1 Luipada The body is like the finest tree, with five branches. Darkness enters the restless mind. Strengthen the quantity of Great Bliss, says Luyi. Learn from asking the Guru. Why does one...
Sometimes our lives feel like hell. It may seem like we’re boxed in and trapped. Locked in a prison of and that place is filled with all kinds of horrors. This is the scene we find Queen Vaidehi in as she cries out to the Buddha for help. Her son Prince...
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...
