Originally published on Tricycle. Before the election, I posted a short piece about a Buddhist response to Trump, namely, to forget about being Buddhist and focus instead on being human. In particular, I wrote that our responsibility is to use the skills and capabilities we develop through practice to step out of our own reactivity. Then we … [Read more...] about A Crooked Tree In Changing Times
Writings & Translations
Guru Yoga Prayer
Treasured teacher, I pray to you.Give me energy so that belief in self falls away.Give me energy so that I see through life's illusions.Give me energy so that reactive thinking comes to an end.Give me energy so that I know mind has no beginning.Give me energy so that confusion resolves itself.Give me energy so that whatever arises is experience … [Read more...] about Guru Yoga Prayer
Ever-present Good’s Prayer of Intention
Ho All experience, potential or actual, patterned or free, Has one ground, two paths and two results.It is the play of awareness and ignorance. Through this prayer of Ever-present Good May everyone come to full and complete awakening In the palace of the realm of totality. The ground of everything is not made of anything. In this … [Read more...] about Ever-present Good’s Prayer of Intention
Mahamudra – Tilopa's Six Words
Don't recall.Don't imagine.Don't think.Don't examine.Don't control.Rest. This advice consists of only six words in Tibetan. The above translation was developed to capture its brevity and directness. Some years ago, I also developed the translation shown below, which some people prefer: Let go of what has passed.Let go of what may come.Let go of … [Read more...] about Mahamudra – Tilopa's Six Words
The Sutra of the Heart of the Lady Perfection of Wisdom
I bow to Lady Perfection of Wisdom. Thus have I heard. At one time Lord Buddha was staying at Vulture Peak Mountain in Rajagriha, with a great gathering of the monastic sangha and the bodhisattva sangha. At that time, Lord Buddha entered an absorption, called Profound Radiance, in which all elements of experience are present. At the same time, … [Read more...] about The Sutra of the Heart of the Lady Perfection of Wisdom
Recognizing Mind as the Guru
courtesy of Shangpa Foundation by Kyer-gong-pa(sKyer.sgang.pa, 1154-1217) Guru bodhicitta namami The gurus who point out mind itself are like no one else:They are done with their own needs and have taken on the needs of others.Their awareness is limitless, their compassion universal.To my kind and gracious gurus I bow. Yes, gurus do point out … [Read more...] about Recognizing Mind as the Guru