For Buddhists, war is unskillful and to be avoided. This talk and subsequent Q & A will explore the Buddhist teaching on war. In the age of Al-Qaeda and ISIL, what is the proper approach that Buddhists take to warfare? Is war always wrong and unskillful? Is there such a thing as a just cause…
According to Buddhist teaching, all life is interrelated and interdependent. Our natural environment is alive and at least partly conscious. It is not considered sacred nor profane, good nor evil or to be dominated. The deep reality of nature is not separate from our fully enlightened nature (Buddha-nature). This insightful talk and subsequent Q &…
On this day, we remember with gratitude our ancestors and those friends who have passed on. We recognize that we are a direct continuation of our ancestors and they still exist within us, in our DNA and our memories and without them we would not exist. Our Obon event includes the Flower Ceremony in which participants will receive a…
This course begins on November 2, 2014. Our Buddhism 201 course is an intermediate-level program that covers the core of the Mahayana and the Shin Buddhist tradition. This comprehensive course is offered to to students who wish to deepen their experience in the Buddha Dharma through the study of Buddhist scripture and commentaries, the third…
Buddhism focuses more on process than outcomes. It is not that the outcome is not important, such as enlightenment, but the skillful approach is necessary to truly unfold its essence. The Buddha said here are 84,000 ways to enlightenment, that is, there are countless and equal ways to practice his teachings. A personal approach to…
Our autumn one-day Mindfulness Retreat will take place at the beautiful Dae Yen Sa Temple in New Hartford, Connecticut. The theme is In This Very Moment where life is truly lived. Practice the art of impartial present time awareness that calms the mind so your heart can open to true peace, interconnectedness, and gratitude. Beginners to the most advanced are…
This talk will cover the obstacles of meditation practice and fully experiencing the Buddhist lifestyle (path). There are five styles of habitual reaction, known as the Five Hindrances, that keep us off track on our journey. There are both part of being human and the journey of life, and contrariwise, they are ingrained obstacles that…
Naikan practice is a unique blend of the spiritual and psychological to help you examine your life, renew your relationships, and reshape your future. Inspired by Shin Buddhist teachings, Naikan is a structured method for intensely meditating on our lives, our interconnections, and our follies. Through Naikan we can learn to cultivate a natural sense…
This talk and Q & A will uncover the heart of the Shin Buddhist teachings for everyday life. Through the examination of famous pithy sayings of Shin masters and practitioners throughout the ages, the clarity and practical teachings of Shin will come to life. This is the second part of a series of presentations. Presented…
Learn about our Buddha nature, our true and real essence, and how is relates to the universal aspiration to unfold our potentialities for understanding and compassion. In Shin Buddhism, this inner aspiration is interpreted as the Primal Vow. The talk and subsequent Q & A will unravel this reality and explain how it directly relates…