- Huineng Didn't Win the Poetry Contest
According to legend, Zen's Sixth Ancestor was chosen in a poetry contest. Here are the facts behind the legend, and the role of ambition in practice.
- Keep the Dharma Wheel Rolling
The symbols, rituals, and language of Buddhism goes back 5000 years or more. We should both maintain and innovate these traditions.
- The Kid Is Not My Son
My father's dishonesty was frustrating and disappointing to many people, but I think he got the worst of it.
- The Dharma of Alex Honnold
He climbed a skyscraper and risked dying on live TV. Here's what I learned from Honnold about climbing, living, and practicing the precepts.
- A Zen Talk: AI OMG!
What is an LLM? How does it work? Is it conscious? Why is this all happening now?
- Speak Up If You're Stuck in a Zazen Rut
Some topics seem off-limits in Zen: What's the goal of meditation? How do I get better at it? I talk about my doubts and break some silences.
- Which Beings Are Sentient?
I reviewed the book The Edge of Sentience and shared good news about humanity's moral progress regarding animal welfare.
- Is an Enlightened Person Afraid of Illness and Death?
A dharma talk I gave at the Village Zendo December 12, 2024, about my mother's brain surgery and end-of-life decisions.
- Are You Prepared To Save A Life?
You can find yourself in a critical situation without warning. Is Zen practice preparing you?
- Bodhisattvas Always Smile
We vow to bear witness to the world's suffering, but there's no reason to be gloomy about it. Let's be cheerful bodhisattvas!