Tag Archives: Zen

Oct 12, 2024: Being Thankful

With Thanksgiving in full swing this month in North America, Lotus Vu talks about the importance of being thankful for what we have.

Tagged , , | Comments Off on Oct 12, 2024: Being Thankful

Sept 28, 2024: Creating Suffering when Playing the Victim

In this talk Lotus Vu discusses the first few of stanzas of the Dhammapada, as to how we play the victim creating our own suffering in the process.

Tagged , , | Comments Off on Sept 28, 2024: Creating Suffering when Playing the Victim

2024 Yearly Retreat Intensive Talk

This talk was given by Lotus Vu to conclude the 2024 yearly retreat intensive.

Tagged , , | Comments Off on 2024 Yearly Retreat Intensive Talk

Meditation Spaces

One of the challenges of practicing Zen is the having a good daily meditation routine. For myself there are two things that can really help the practice. First, dedicate a specific time to meditate everyday and stick with it. First … Continue reading

Posted in Dharma, Practice | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Meditation Spaces

Retreat Intensive 2024

At the end of May the sangha had a yearly retreat intensive with our teacher Lotus Vu. This was my very first retreat and found the experience, with 6 hours of the day in meditation and all most a week … Continue reading

Posted in Dharma | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Retreat Intensive 2024

Yogacara as the Third Turning of the Dharma Wheel

(Lotus’ speaking notes of Dharma Talk on May 18, 2024) Early Buddhism and Theravada – 1st Turning Mahāyāna’s Mādhyamika – 2nd Turning Yogacara – 3rd Turning Problem with other minds How is the world known? = Through 8 Consciousnesses (8 … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Yogacara as the Third Turning of the Dharma Wheel

Beginner’s Course 2024

With the beginning of a new year comes the Beginning’s Course once again. This is a great introduction for those that are new to Zen Buddhism or a solid refresher of the foundations for seasoned practitioners. The course can be … Continue reading

Posted in Site News | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Beginner’s Course 2024

The Rupa (Form) Jhanas

Links to John’s references for his talk on November 25, 2023 about the Jhanas.

Posted in Dharma | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Rupa (Form) Jhanas

Four Ways of Knowing 

Transformation of Eight Consciousnesses from the Yogacara (四智 catvāri jñānāni) Notes from Lotus’ Dharma Talk on October 28, 2023 The way of knowing of the great reflecting mirror –mind clears  The way of knowing equality – mind without afflictions  The way of knowing of clear observation – absent of efforts  The way of knowing perfected action – all is ok  Five, six, seven, eight: the resulting fruits of planted seeds movements  It only uses labels, not the true nature of reality  If knowing moves without attachments  Amidst bustling activities, stillness liberates.  Alaya-vijnana storehouse consciousness converts to knowing of the perfected mirror.  Manas-vijnana consciousness (discriminating ego) converts to knowing of equanimity  Thinking/ discriminating mind converts to knowing of clear observation  Five other consciousness transforms to knowing of perfected action (or the perfected mirror knowing in the sense-consciousness)  The nature of knowing (Citta) (thức) is wisdom (trí). When it doesn’t know itself, it is deluded by phenomena of consciousness deluded with its factors, it is knowing in  a dualistic manner. When knowing knows itself and is liberated from attachments to all phenomena of itself, it is transformed into wisdom.  The essence of knowing nature (thể) is the absolute reality of unmoving stillness amidst all the … Continue reading

Posted in Dharma | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Four Ways of Knowing