Zen may begin on the meditation cushion; however, true practice should extend into every aspect of our lives, not just the seated position.

Whether Sitting, Standing, or Lying Down

True Zen practice does not expect anything in return. It is not a means to an ends, but the ends itself.

For The Sake Of

The good news is that everything is impermanent, changing; every moment is brand new. This means that we are ultimately free. However, if we expect certainty and fixedness from life, then impermanence is also bad news. Buddhism teaches us how to stop clinging and accept things just as they are--free from both bad and good.

The Good News and the Bad News

Do as little harm as possible; that is the way of the Buddhas.

The Harmless Way

Probably the most staggering teaching in Buddhism is that we are already Buddha. Our minds and the minds of all Buddhas are fundamentally identical.

The Buddha Is Your Birthright

Every being and blade of grass is sacred. All deserve our kindness and respect, even those we view as unpleasant.

Treat Every Being Like Buddha

The heart of Buddhist practice is learning to accept conditions as they are while simultaneously playing an active role in the world.

Accepting Conditions

The hardest thing to accept in Buddhism is that even the aspects of the world and ourselves that we dislike the most are magnificent expressions of the great reality. It's simply our picking and choosing minds that distract us from this point.

The Pollen In Your Nose

Zen practice walks the middle path between trying to gain or lose anything. Just as we eat to eat and sleep to sleep, we practice to practice--not to gain patience or lose stress.

Neither Loss Nor Gain

In Buddhism, everything is sacred. If we treat the smallest organisms with respect and compassion, imagine how we could treat our fellow humans.

Original Mind Zen

Original Mind Zen

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