One attitude we often encounter in life is the notion we have to find ourselves or improve ourselves. ‘Know Thyself’. It’s said on the Oracle in Delphi in ancient Greece. The problem is finding the fixed self or essence to grasp or improve upon. As I learned this makes self-help and self-improvement a trap for … Read more
‘To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees.’ Paul Valéry When you walk down the road, how do you now bump into things? When you write your signature, you don’t need to think about it. This state of mind is what Zen and Buddhism at large points towards. This state of … Read more
Buddhism is often misunderstood; those who investigate its ideas often look for a core set of beliefs to cling to. Just as other religions have gods, Buddhism is treated as having some essential truth to grasp. This makes Buddhism the same religion as western beliefs and philosophy. However, the teachings of the Buddha are never … Read more
Zen Master Dogen writes, ‘To study Buddhism is to study the Self; to study the Self is to forget the Self.’ Who are we? What are We? We are obsessed with finding ourselves. To seek that essence, that fundamental core of what we are. The search for the Self is both illuminating and mystifying. To … Read more
One of the most significant issues with any idea is passing it on to others; how to teach, learn, and to whom. Buddhism recognises what it teaches is not easy to comprehend, so it’s developed many methods to get the message across. Different schools in Buddhism use their own methods. The methods vary, the debates … Read more
With the idea in Buddhism of No-Self or Non-self, there is a thought and concern that Buddhism is Nihilistic, denying any existence or meaning in life. It’s sometimes criticism of Buddhist philosophy, and we have questions as we investigate Buddhism. Illusion and Non-existence One reason why such an accusation of forwards is the Buddhist idea … Read more