Historical Trees of Enlightenment

While Christmas trees represent generosity and giving, these days they could also be associated with materialism and consumerism. Perhaps somewhat in contrast, Bodhirukka, or tree of enlightenment, is a certain tree associated with the awakening of each of the 29 Buddhas named in the Buddhavamsa, the Chronicle of Buddhas.

The 29 Buddhas of Theravāda

The gallery of trees below shows best guesses at anything I could find about trees listed (but not linked to by Wikipedia) for some of Buddhas 1-21. They are captioned with the number of the Buddha, followed by tree name listed in Buddhavamsa, then by common and/or latin tree name for the guess and link to source(s). Also included are tree images for Buddhas 22-29 (as linked to by Wikipedia.)

What can trees teach and help with right now? Stillness? Resilience? Effortless nourishment? Standing in your power? Giving and receiving? Majesty? Flexibility? Firmness? Want of recognition? Growth? Decay? Renewal? Earth connection? Wisdom? Mystery? Beauty?

Some other (legendary) trees:

Supranormal (or so-called Psychic Powers) in the (Buddhist) Pali Cannon

Monks, spend time with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. They are wise monks who assist their companions in the Holy Life. Monks, Sāriputta is like a parent, Moggallāna is like a babysitter. Monks, Sāriputta leads one to the attainment of stream-entry, Moggallāna leads one to the highest goal. . .

Selection from Saccavibhaṅgasutta — Analysis of Truth
Maudgalyāyana (PaliMoggallāna), also known as Mahāmaudgalyāyana or by his birth name Kolita

Linked below are places in the Pali Cannon mentioning supranormal abilities or so-called “psychic powers.”

But first, a few questions (even though it is not worth wasting much energy defending the significance of seemingly fantastical things in comparison to where the masses still reference (their) reality: the TeeVee news media which is currently still being dumbed down to around a 5th grade level, and also whatever is on social media in alignment with it.)

Why would supranormal abilities even be mentioned by, or in association with a historical figure so psychologically developed and adept by today’s scientific standards that neuroscience and psychology is finally catching up with some of the Buddha’s teachings?

How do psychologists into Buddhism who deny psychic phenomena respond to Moggallana, often said to be foremost in psychic powers among the senior disciples of the Buddha? Was Moggallana delusional? If so, was the Buddha delusional for not saying anything about Moggallana’s delusions?

If these abilities are only mere mythology or metaphor how did they originate? Where did the ideas come from? If from the imagination, how does that work?

Why spend so much time detailing and mentioning “psychic powers”?

Why were “psychic powers” so important to Devadatta the Buddha’s cousin and brother to his wife, and whom some say was his arch nemesis?

What is the significance, if any, of the (establishing of the) monastic rule prohibiting public displays of psychic power for anyone except the Buddha?

It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They think: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.

They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. They think: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.

And what is enthusiasm that’s too lax? It’s when enthusiasm is combined with laziness. This is called lax enthusiasm.

And what is enthusiasm that’s too tense? It’s when enthusiasm is combined with restlessness. This is called tense enthusiasm.

And what is enthusiasm that’s constricted internally? It’s when enthusiasm is combined with dullness and drowsiness. This is called enthusiasm constricted internally.

And what is enthusiasm that’s distracted externally? It’s when enthusiasm is frequently distracted and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called enthusiasm distracted externally.

And how does a mendicant meditate perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before? It’s when the perception of continuity is properly grasped, attended, borne in mind, and comprehended with wisdom by a mendicant. That’s how a mendicant meditates perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before.

And how does a mendicant meditate as below, so above; as above, so below? It’s when a mendicant examines their own body up from the soles of the feet and down from the tips of the hairs, wrapped in skin and full of many kinds of filth. ‘In this body there is head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine.’ That’s how a mendicant meditates as below, so above; as above, so below.

And how does a mendicant meditate as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort, with the same features, attributes, and signs by day as by night. And they develop it with the same features, attributes, and signs by night as by day. That’s how a mendicant meditates as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

And how, with an open and unenveloped heart, does a mendicant develop a mind that’s full of radiance? It’s when a mendicant has properly grasped the perception of light, and has properly grasped the perception of day. That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.

And what is energy that’s too lax? …

And what is mental development that’s too lax? …

And what is inquiry that’s too lax? It’s when inquiry is combined with laziness. This is called lax inquiry.

And what is inquiry that’s too tense? It’s when inquiry is combined with restlessness. This is called tense inquiry.

And what is inquiry that’s constricted internally? It’s when inquiry is combined with dullness and drowsiness. This is called inquiry constricted internally.

And what is inquiry that’s distracted externally? It’s when inquiry is frequently distracted and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called inquiry distracted externally. … That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.

Exceprt from:
Linked Discourses 51
2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse
20. Analysis

Selections via SuttaCentral.net mentioning supranormal/”psychic” powers:

  1. AN10.90
  2. AN10.97
  3. AN11.10
  4. AN1.188-197
  5. AN1.235-247
  6. AN1.394-574
  7. AN3.101
  8. AN3.102
  9. AN3.144
  10. AN3.156-162
  11. AN3.40
  12. AN3.60
  13. AN4.191
  14. AN4.276
  15. AN4.45
  16. AN5.100
  17. AN5.23
  18. AN5.28
  19. AN5.67
  20. AN5.68
  21. AN6.2
  22. AN6.41
  23. AN6.54
  24. AN6.70
  25. AN7.71
  26. AN8.19
  27. AN8.28
  28. AN8.30
  29. AN8.70
  30. AN9.35
  31. AN9.83
  32. AN9.84-91
  33. AN9.92
  34. DN10
  35. DN11
  36. DN14
  37. DN16
  38. DN17
  39. DN18
  40. DN24
  41. DN26
  42. DN28
  43. DN29
  44. DN2
  45. DN30
  46. DN33
  47. DN34
  48. DN3
  49. MN103
  50. MN104
  51. MN108
  52. MN118
  53. MN119
  54. MN129
  55. MN12
  56. MN149
  57. MN151
  58. MN16
  59. MN25
  60. MN37
  61. MN49
  62. MN50
  63. MN56
  64. MN6
  65. MN73
  66. MN77
  67. MN86
  68. MN91
  69. MN92
  70. MN99
  71. SN12.70
  72. SN14.15
  73. SN16.9
  74. SN21.1
  75. SN21.3
  76. SN22.101
  77. SN2.26
  78. SN22.80
  79. SN22.81
  80. SN40.1
  81. SN40.2
  82. SN40.3
  83. SN40.4
  84. SN40.5
  85. SN40.6
  86. SN40.7
  87. SN40.8
  88. SN40.9
  89. SN41.4
  90. SN4.20
  91. SN43.12
  92. SN43.7
  93. SN45.155
  94. SN51.10
  95. SN51.11
  96. SN51.12
  97. SN51.13
  98. SN51.14
  99. SN51.15
  100. SN51.16
  101. SN51.17
  102. SN51.18
  103. SN51.19
  104. SN51.1
  105. SN51.20
  106. SN51.21
  107. SN51.22
  108. SN51.23
  109. SN51.24
  110. SN51.25
  111. SN51.26
  112. SN51.27
  113. SN51.28
  114. SN51.29
  115. SN51.2
  116. SN51.30
  117. SN51.31
  118. SN51.32
  119. SN51.33-44
  120. SN51.3
  121. SN51.4
  122. SN51.5
  123. SN51.6
  124. SN51.77-86
  125. SN51.7
  126. SN51.8
  127. SN51.9
  128. SN52.12
  129. SN5.5
  130. SN6.14
  131. SN6.5
  132. SN6.6
  133. SN8.10
  134. SN8.12
  135. Thag10.7
  136. Thag1.38
  137. Thag16.9
  138. Thag17.2
  139. Thag18.1
  140. Thag19.1
  141. Thag20.1
  142. Thag21.1
  143. Thag6.10
  144. Thag6.1
  145. Thig11.1
  146. Thig13.5
  147. Thig5.1
  148. https://suttacentral.net/ja78/en/chalmers

Other mentions/resources:

Breath: Questions for Contemplation; Perceptions and Practice Ideas


March 13, 2023 Update: Part 2 of this Breath: Questions for Contemplation; Perceptions and Practice Ideas is now available for purchase on Insight Timer as the five-day Progressive Breath Awareness Booster course and is entirely free for Plus members (which includes a 1-month free trial). Day one is free for everyone: https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/progressive-breath-awareness-booster or the easy to remember: https://tinyurl.com/breathcourse


Easy to remember custom URL for this article: tinyurl.com/integratingbreath


After jotting down intuitive information and collecting odds and ends of teachings on breath for quite some time, I’ve finally compiled the first part into a video (along with an MP3 audio version) and include a (tran)script below:


Breath: Questions for Contemplation; Perceptions and Practice Ideas MP3 audio version [MP3 file download]

Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)


Disclaimer: it may be wise to find a balance with this material for whatever it may bring up: intrigue, fear, relief, breakthrough, novelty, overwhelm, overkill, irrelevancy, etc. One can pause the video at anytime for contemplation. 

Or instead of viewing as study and practice instructions just sit back and take this in as a display of possibilities — letting the material resonate with whatever strikes as vital. 

However you’re called to receive this presentation please take what is skillful, wise and useful/helpful and leave the rest. Also, this presentation could easily become outdated and/or refuted. 

For any questions posed in the material it is encouraged to engage each question the following four ways, both internally to yourself, and to me with any counter-questions for both of our benefit:

  • answer directly
  • answer with analysis (and elaboration after deconstructing)
  • answer by counter-question(s)
  • do not answer, or give no response

In addition to this public presentation the private portion may be given if working with me, or may be released later. Much of what’s public is aggregated from other public sources while the private includes material I’m unsure of what portion is public and what portion is not.

Both the public and private presentations primarily address the breath through approaches, observations, conjecture, perceptions, practice ideas, and inquiries ranging from simple, commonplace, practical, and broad overviews to the bizarre, obscure, esoteric, and minutia while sometimes these categories overlap.

Overall, a basic bare awareness of breath is primarily needed. Again, this presentation is not to overwhelm, for overthinking, for comparison, or judgement. Rather, to enhance the likelihood of maintaining and/or prolonging bare awareness of breath for/during breath practices.


Questions for Contemplation

  • What if this was the first time noticing breath? 
  • What is more important than breath in this moment?
  • What effects are the breath having right now (on any and all levels you have access to inside and outside)?
  • How is your relationship with your breath in this moment?
Continue reading “Breath: Questions for Contemplation; Perceptions and Practice Ideas”

An Integrating Presence Meditation at Mary’s House of Healing December 16, 2020

Join the 7pm meditation tonight, December 16th, at Fat Cat Longevity, downstairs next to Peace Love Coffee & Vegan Deli at Mary’s House of Healing, St Charles, MO

Doors open: 6:50pm close: 7:05pm

See a previous example for more information

Energy, Consciousness, Psychology and Inner Work | In Conversation with David Hults (Part 2)

David from Alternative Life Guide and I pick up from the end of Part 1 — “Life Force, Art, Technology and (Digging) Crystals | In Conversation with David Hults” for:

  • An expanded, detailed exploration of energy:
    • everyday, practical
    • esoteric
    • power of fire
    • sun
    • energy healing
    • different names for (types of) energy
    • planetary
    • cosmic
    • circulation
    • heart energy
    • human level
    • introvert/extrovert/mesovert
    • how to recharge
    • signs of depletion

[Note: prior image here removed due to copyright infringement claim which I claim nothing of as all rights obviously belong to whatever and/or whomever legal mumbo-jumbo applies as as of April 6, 2023 this donation only website makes (below) zero profit]

Then we get into:

  • scale of consciousness
  • mindfulness of consciousness and psychology’s recently involvement
  • Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability
  • emotional spectrum
  • inconstancy and impermanence
  • peak experience
  • McMindfulness and the Mindfulness Industrial Complex
  • balancing will and surrender (of control)
  • control as an illusion
  • what is skillful, wise and wholesome
  • judgement vs judgmentalism vs discernment
  • superior, inferior and equality conceit
  • sovereignty, group think and unity consciousness
  • group consciousness and conscious groups
  • cults and abuse
  • self-worth
  • authenticity
  • not settling
  • Mindvalley
  • respect
  • competition vs. collaboration and cooperation
  • service to others boosted by inner and shadow work


Watch Part 1 — “Life Force, Art, Technology and (Digging) Crystals | In Conversation with David Hults



Continue reading “Energy, Consciousness, Psychology and Inner Work | In Conversation with David Hults (Part 2)”

Metaphysical and Parapolitical Remote Viewing Questions

Above is a clear, concise and knowledgeable series by Brett Stuart of Technical Intuition on how to carryout Controlled Remote Viewing [CRV].

The following questions address the more metaphysical and parapolitical realms related to CRV. Brent Stuart says clear images are almost always Analytical Overlay (AOL), but what about for higher density/dimensional remote viewing? What if a clear image comes up that could resemble what some refer to as “alien machinery” or (holographically and/or reality controlling) “ai cubes” where there’s not really much of a visual reference point but your intuition says — in the later stages of RV — that maybe whatever was seen as a clear image could be something like this?

And could discarding, or ruling out clear images for higher level RV tasks allow controlling forces and systems to:

  1. Gauge your ability level (if they know you saw something (nearly) exactly as it is and have an accurate label for it that they also know of)?
  2. Help confirm and validate their operations (if (covertly) behind tasking an RV session)?
  3. More so allow controlling forces and systems to monitor the outcome of the observer effect on a RV task?

This also naturally brings up the question of remote influencing on CRV, especially decoys, distractions, deterrents, blocking, alterations, etc.

And the CIA’s PROJECT STARGATE using RV is public knowledge. Would they have an interest in RV beyond the by-the-book method and purpose? And, as a reference point, the CIA seem pretty low level in the cosmic scheme of things.

Life Force, Art, Technology and (Digging) Crystals | In Conversation with David Hults (Part 1)

Much is edited out in this first part of a December 2, 2020, conversation with David Hults of Alternative Life Guide due to our recording setting canceling out barking and aircraft while also silencing us.

From the Creative Portfolio of Art, Media, and Projects from David Hults, PMP

Some topics we discuss and display:

Part 2 — “Energy, Consciousness, Psychology & Inner Work | In Conversation with David Hults”



The raw unedited YouTube transcription of this podcast:

[Music]

today we have

josh tiphold of integrating presents my

name is david holtz of the alternative

life guide

and we’re here to talk about a myriad of

subjects

including crystals empowerment

and we’re going to start off with a real

base point of things that should be

public yeah we’re just in dave’s davis

backyard

the second of december yep 2020

and it’s a little chilly out but sun’s

shining and whatnot and

i think the the main thing we got here

to get the conversation going is um

david’s recent trip to arkansas um we’re

both um we’re both into

really similar subjects one thing we

connect on and we can show today

is um arkansas courts quartz crystals

from arkansas

so i haven’t really i just heard a

little bit about david’s trip

maybe that might be a good good place to

start northern arkansas

and southern missouri have a very large

quartz deposit underneath

the whole area which lends

a little bit to its mystique in the

ozark mountains

we went specifically to ron coleman’s

mind and

had a good tour and learned about how

they mined the courts and things like

that got to drive around

the place but then they allow you to go

mine

or sift through all the stuff that they

bring out of the mine and kind of dump

in a pile

uh to the side um so while they

definitely collect all of the really big

uh

very nice clean pure clear quartz

uh for sale to collectors and things

like that they

definitely leave a lot of the more milky

quartz golden court things like that in

the ground

so we were able to go with the kids and

really enjoy ourselves for a bit

scraping through the the red earth and

finding a lot of different pieces large

small

and in between very cool

uh yeah i gave david some

um stuff that i founded ron coleman’s

brothers uh jimmy coleman’s mind

when i went down there i think it was

last year

and um gave him a bigger piece to have

camp out here and a bunch of smaller

pieces that i wouldn’t do anything with

and um well

what are you going to do with some of

this course uh and then then

that’ll tie into like with the the the

work you’re doing with it

so this is what i call a orgonite-ish

resonance art it’s in the theory of

orgonite

which is essentially a construct that

harnesses

the orgone energy of the environment

the orgone energy of the environment is

what the chinese and asian people refer

to as

ki or ki uh the star wars group refers

to it as the force

native american culture refers to it as

the great spirit

people call it god creation all kinds of

things but there is

something more to this blank space that

we are all

in and i believe that

it’s not just a belief the the science

that i’ve been learning

in this 21st century really has started

to back up the concept that everything

is wave form

even the most solid of objects is still

molecular structures vibrating against

each other at a certain rate of speed

and the interesting thing about that is

that it becomes solid like it’s not the

cup

in our hands but at the same time

if you had the electron microscope you

could just see straight through this

there’s so many different aspects of

this people can connect on the energetic

level of this

that people can connect on the

scientific level or do you even just see

this

aesthetic level you know how how it

locked down in the science level

all this is uh the geologist crowd as

well and

how everything’s molecularly formed

under and how it

their theories on how it formed over

eons or less than that

what kind of material and conditions

we’re around to

form this type of thing and that and

then you get the energetic people who

are

kind of like sensitive to energy um one

really

easy example for people to who aren’t

even energetically sensitive

if you hear these big crystal caverns

like in mexico right

where you have to have these special

suits because you can only be in there

so long

it’s because people like start um

sweating or i forget what exactly

happens but

well maybe maybe i’m getting that wrong

but i thought there were certain

precautions around this so

if you just put so much in one’s face

it’s probably going to be a little bit

more obvious to

people just like some people can notice

um certain crystals and not other ones

a lot of people some people talk about

mole divide as an easier one to notice

energetically and whatnot aesthetic i

mean like

jewelry has been made out of these type

of things and

pieces like david’s work here i mean

just just because they look nice you

know they look pleasing

and uh yeah so jewelry if you want to be

down there for more than half an hour

i mean the radio frequency transmitted

through that might have something

to do with it could be that would be

something good to look at and of course

all of our electronic devices have tiny

quartz crystals in them as well

the neat part about it is that right now

we’re discovering how some

people are more sensitive to various

electromagnetic frequencies and

waveforms

and the uh all of this is very

specific to the individual so don’t

dismiss it because you don’t feel it

other people may feel it ten times more

than you could ever imagine and it’s

very painful

i think that we can create a

uh new realm of technology applications

that mitigate the emf

field and not just the stuff that they

are making right now which are

which there’s a whole lot of cool

technology but i’m talking about just

adapting

the things that we have for instance the

emf radiation

from the cell phones that we carry it

while they continually try to reduce

this because they

do acknowledge now that this it can be

harmful to some people’s health

i think that it’s an idea like let’s

integrate black tourmaline in the

chipset

and right now we just have that silicone

board

that everything gets wired too but what

if we lace it with black tourmaline

with the with the industrial

capabilities on the planet we can

take the dust of these things which

vibrates in the same harmonic resonance

as a baseball side

chunk we can integrate the dust of these

minerals

throughout the equipment and perhaps

that would kind of

uh reduce the weight the the size of the

wave system some of these

emf emissions are more in square waves

um

thank you that’s the right word and then

this helps um i guess

round it off a little bit yes

yes yes i’m not 100 sure on that or how

that works you know even just regular

technology

instead of wi-fi instead of radio waves

they’re using light waves

i don’t know if they’re infrared or what

it’s not a really popular technology but

i think it’s

it exists but yeah broadcast

i know that they have made great

advances in light

technology uh as far as how they

perceive

the spectrum how they uh are utilizing

the whole spectrum

and so it would not surprise me if they

were transmitting data

in light package okay so these are all

the large pieces

that i pulled out of the ground this is

the point in the video where

dogs started barking very loudly and

airplanes flying over and due to the

zoom

settings we use the audio for this

portion is pretty much unusable

hey while we’re talking about the

crystals specifically let’s move over to

the

other table and look at all the small

pieces

okay so all of this little stuff is the

things that we pulled out of the ground

from ron coleman’s

except for the things that are not

courts obviously these are some of the

better pieces that i

actually pulled out of the ground right

down here

this is got a uh very fun little

point on it growing out there super

clear

point right there too i really

appreciate

this teeny tiny little outcropping there

i look at that i can zoom

yeah so it’s so fun

we got the jersey courts out of the

ground uh we were walking in the woods

around bonterre missouri i tend to think

that

uh nature kind of has it displayed for

me

sometimes because the jeep trail that we

were walking down

obviously people have been driving down

it for the entire hunting season

this year and nobody saw the big swath

of crazy quartz in the middle

or at least they don’t care about it

piece of organite like creation

so you asked what i’m gonna do with

these things uh

all of the the quartz is over here and

then i

shopped in the ron coleman uh rock shop

that they have there

this is blue calcite it’s one of the

neatest pieces

that i’ve seen so blue calcite red

calcite

this is rose quartz this is

yellow calcite or golden calcite over

here this is all amazonite

labradorite black tourmaline

this is sodalite and uh what i love

about

sodalite is it is this close to lapis

lazuli

it just uh does not have the same pyrite

composition

and what’s interesting about it is the

the density of the rock in order to

crush

is so much easier the sodalite is so

much easier to work with and to shape

than the lapis lazuli because i think it

is the

the iron pyrite content of the lapis

that makes it that much more dense

but i have uh tried to break both up and

the lapis just breaks the pieces like it

it hasn’t broken the hammer but it sure

wants to

so that’s a fun experiment just trying

to play with the dense

space and figure out the rock crushing

aspects

because all in all i do want to create

more pieces

like this and this is just a piece of

shungite cast

in red in epoxy resin but again the

piezoelectric qualities of this

what i like about the epoxy resin to

create

artworks is that while i am

experimenting with organized concepts uh

the layers of metal

and then crystal and metal and crystal

in order to

channel energy in a certain way to

produce a certain effect

perhaps i it acts as resonance artwork

even if it doesn’t

officially qualify as organized uh but

more importantly

the piezoelectric quality of everything

is really

why this works because because when the

epoxy resin dries

it goes in as a liquid and this is any

kind of resin

when it dries it squeezes so essentially

think of this rock emanating all of its

good

vibrations and things like that but then

having somebody squeeze it like a sponge

you know and

and really enhances that energetic

projection that’s kind of the

idea that i’m going for well right on

yeah it is uh

people talk about just crystals in

general um attracting energy

storing energy and then emitting energy

right um

yes it’s uh so what you know energy is

kind of like um yeah

that needs that term probably needs to

be broken down

Immigrant Buddhism | (11/24/2020 — “Ask Us Anything” With Denny K Miu)

For this month’s open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Denny and I sum up the themes of our last two conversations on Mahayana and Theravada while adding in the 3rd Buddhist Council. We then wrap-up the developmental history of Buddhism in China, South East Asia and Tibet.  Finally we move into the history of Zen Buddhism. From Denny’s notes (most of which is covered in this talk and/or previous talks):

  • Zen is Chán which is 禪, short for 禪那, or jhāna.
  • Zen was first brought to Japan in the Kamakura era (12th century) through Korea (which originally came through China in the 9th century).
  • Zen was welcomed by the samurai class, combining Zen, Confucianism and Shintoism and developing into Bushido, a code of honor and ideals, which eventually enabled the transfer of power away from the imperial aristocracy.
  • In 1187, Zen master Eisai returned to Japan from China and brought with him the Rinzai tradition.
  • In 1223, another Zen master Dōgen went to China, upon return he brought back the Soto tradition. 
  • «Rinzai for the Shōgun, Sōtō for the peasants»
  • Rinzai is famous for the kōan  (a riddle to keep the mind in suspense)
  • Sōtō is famous for “Shikantaza” (Only Sitting).
  • Rinzai and Sōtō are two of the five schools formed by students of the sixth patriarch (Huineng, 638 ~ 713).
  • Shikantaza is much misunderstood.  In reality, Shikantaza is a shorthand for 默照 (Silent Illumination) which is the integration between shamatha (calming of the mind) and vipashyana (contemplation).

Miscellaneous mentions:



Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)


Join Denny live Saturdays online for Yi Jin Jing and mindful joint, stretching, breathing, and qi exercises via:


Full list of links at DennyKMiu.com


Continue reading “Immigrant Buddhism | (11/24/2020 — “Ask Us Anything” With Denny K Miu)”

An Integrating Presence Meditation at Mary’s House of Healing November 18, 2020

On November 18, 2020 at Mary’s House of Healing starting at 7pm, I plan to facilitate a guided meditation starting with brief instructions along with a discussion before and after. We will likely choose from the following: concentration; loving-kindness; (open) awareness; 5 simple qigong breathing exercises; and/or mindfulness [1) body 2) heart-mind: thoughts, emotions, moods, mind states 3) relationship to our experience]

https://www.facebook.com/events/659422831388371

Mary’s House of Healing
524 South Main Street
Downstairs at Fat Cat Longevity next to Peace Love Coffee…
St. Charles, MO

November 18, 2020 — 7:00pm – 7:45pm

Doors open: 6:50pm — Doors close: 7:05pm

Cost: generosity inspired donation

Hokyoji Zen Practice Community’s Zoom Rohatsu Sesshin (Retreat) 11/30/20 – 12/06/20

Rohatsu is Japanese for “eighth day of the twelfth month” when Japanese Zen Buddhists observe the enlightenment of the historical Buddha.

Below is a dharma talk from the Jewel Mirror Sesshin with Hokyoji Zen Practice Community I partially attended in August via Zoom.

Fortunately or unfortunately, or both, or neither, Zoom retreats are part of meditation practice for folks at this time. From November 30th to December 6th the hokyoji Zen Practice Community’s Zoom Rohatsu Sesshin (Retreat) focuses on the immeasurable/sublime abiding/Brahma Vihara/divine abode of Upekkha or Equanimity. Retreat details and registration link below:

Equanimity; Finding Our Way Home
In the awakened mind two of the most important aspects are:
Mindfulness and Equanimity

Please join the Hokyoji Zen Practice Community for the deeply silent and beautiful Rohatsu Sesshin. At Hokyoji we have been studying the practices of the Divine Abodes (Brahma Viharas) for a year. These four abodes of: Metta/Boundless Friendliness; Karuna/Compassion; Mudita/ Sympathetic Joy; Upekkha/ Equanimity, help us to cultivate the powerful and gentle reference points for zazen itself, and for the activities in each day of our lives. Right now, the life within us and around us is particularly fraught with disturbance, loss, and uncertainty. Equanimity, the crown of the Brahma Viharas, is the theme for Rohatsu. Equanimity is a dynamic, demanding practice rooted in the nondual teachings of Zen. It’s blessings are peace, nimbleness, responsiveness and capacity.

This online retreat will begin Monday, November 30th at 7:00pm and continue through Sunday, December 6th at noon. Event leaders will reside at Hokyoji in accord with pandemic guidelines. Participants will participate online via Zoom and have the option to participate as much or as little as desired. We ask that all participants attend the orientation session on Monday evening. Once you register, you will be sent a Zoom link.

A normal Hokyoji in-person retreat would be listed at $510 for 6 nights, with Hokyoji members receiving a 20% discount: $480 for 6 nights. However, as this year is a online retreat, Rohatsu 2020 will be based on dana (generosity). Please pay what you think is appropriate for your participation, or just pay what you can, be it a smaller or possibly a larger amount. No one will be turned away. Please REGISTER HERE

On the topic of equanimity, a few equanimity cultivation phrases:

May I learn to see the arising in passing of all things with equanimity and balance — Jack Kornfield

May I embrace change with stillness and calm. May I deeply except this moment as it is. — Christina Feldman

May I accept and open to how it is right now because this is how it is right now. — Carmella Masters

A write up by Caroline Jones and Paul Burrows on how the Brahma Viharas connect, interrelate, balance and counterbalance each other (as a whole):

The Four Sublime Abidings

Metta, [kindness] the love that connects, is an antidote to all forms of aversion.

It is not attachment.

If it slides into sentimentality, karuna [compassion] brings the heart back into balance.

Karuna, the love that responds, is an antidote to cruelty.
It is not pity.

If it slides into sorrow, mudita [appreciative joy] brings the heart back into balance.

Mudita, the love that celebrates, is an antidote to envy.
It is not competitive.

If it slides into agitated excitement, upekkha [equanimity] brings the heart back into balance.

Upekkha, the love that allows, is the antidote to partiality.
It is not indifference.

If it slides into disconnection, metta brings the heart back into balance.