As Buddhism moves into the western world, the question is asked, ‘Is monasticism necessary? Do we really need monks and nuns? Maybe that old stuff worked in Asia but is no longer profitable?’…
Buddhism
Ceremonial musical instruments from Tibet and Mongolia
More wonderful old (1930s) photographs of ceremonial musical instruments from Tibet and Mongolia. From British Library #endangeredarchives project…
Clothes and Moods, by Trevor Leggett
We are asked not to become identified with passing moods, which are to be treated like clothes. Whether we are wearing bright clothes or dark clothes…
The Five Buddha Families, by Francesca Fremantle
The Buddha wisdom, which is beyond imagination, naturally appears in the mandala in the five different kinds of enlightenment, or five wisdoms. This is known as the five Buddha families. These five contain the possibility of both confusion and wisdom, samsara and enlightenment…
Propaganda is not the way things are, by Ajahn Sumedho
Buddhism is not a brainwashing or conditioning type of teaching. One is not being asked to adopt Buddhist ideas, or say all the right Buddhist things, or wear Buddhist clothes (even though I do).
Great Peace of Mind, by Harada Sekkei Roshi
With regard to religion, we tend to think of it as belief in something outside of ourselves. But please understand and accept that in Buddhism, the person who conveys the teaching as well as the person who hears and listens to the teaching are both you…
Moss grows
Zen Poem: In front of the Patriarch’s room the road is smooth…
This reflective mind, by Ajahn Sumedho
This reflective mind, then, is the still point in the centre. That is why each one of us is important in our own right. You may feel that you are not a very important person, that you are just one of the 5.5 billion on this planet…
Buddhism now 