Rev. Danny Fisher

Just a Buddhist Minister Trying to Benefit Beings
November 2, 2009

A Gift of Dharma for 11.2.09

bassui_picToday’s quote comes to us from Bassui Tokushō (1327-1387).

A Japanese Rinzai Zen monk and master who lived during the Kamakura Period, who founded Kokagu-ji Temple.  Bassui, who spent much of his life as a hermit, was nonetheless renowned and much sought-after for his abilities as a teacher.  According to translator Arthur Braverman in his book Mud and Water:  The Complete Teachings of Zen Master Bassui (Wisdom Publications, 2002), his final instruction to his students before dying was this:  “Look directly! What is this? Look in this manner and you won’t be deceived!” (pg. 10)

Here’s the quote, also from Braverman’s translation (pg. 59):

There is no ice or snow apart from water, and the Buddhahood of ordinary people can be likened to snow and ice melting and becoming water.  From the beginning nothing has ever been lost.

November 2, 2009

Our New Makeover

Well, I’m trying out a new WordPress theme.  What do you think?  Is it a keeper?  Should I try another?  Please be honest!  How does it look?

November 2, 2009

This Week’s “On the Buddhism Beat” Post is Up at Shambhala Sun Space

sunspace-aug08My latest “On the Buddhism Beat” post is now online over at Shambhala Sun Space. Please take a look, and remember: your comments are always welcome!  The biggest news developments this week continued to revolve around Tibet.  Here’s a sample:

  • As we reported last week, the Chinese government has been loudly protesting about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to a region of India that they claim as their own.  Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responded this week, saying, “the Dalai Lama is our honored guest.”
  • His Holiness is now in Japan, at the invitation of the Shikoku Buddhist Association and Okinawa Mahabodhi Association.
  • Shortly after arriving, His Holiness told reporters that he felt China was “misleading” the world about their rule of Tibet.
  • China, meanwhile, has stepped up security in the region, saying that their fight against “separatism” remains “very serious.”
  • In a related story, the Chinese government confirmed reports that two Tibetan were executed for their roles in last year’s unrest in Lhasa.
  • In response, a group of Tibetan monks and nuns in Dharamsala went on a hunger strike to raise awareness of the executions.

    • Read the rest here.

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