Windhorse Publications
Windhorse Publications

'Abandon self; accept reality.' - Interview with author David Brazier

By Windhorse Publi... on Mon, 11 Mar, 2019 - 16:24

'Abandon self; accept reality.' - Interview with author David Brazier

By Windhorse Publi... on Mon, 11 Mar, 2019 - 16:24

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing respected Buddhist teacher and author, David Brazier, about his upcoming book, The Dark Side of the Mirror: forgetting the self in Dōgen’s Genjō Kōan, due for release on 19 March 2019.

What is the significance of the title: The Dark Side of the Mirror?

The theme of the text Genjō Kōan, written by Dōgen when he returned from China, was the nature of satori (Japanese: spiritual enlightenment). Many people think that enlightenment comes as a result...

Windhorse Publications
Windhorse Publications

Coming soon: ‘The Dark Side of the Mirror’ by David Brazier

By Windhorse Publi... on Wed, 27 Feb, 2019 - 15:44

Coming soon: ‘The Dark Side of the Mirror’ by David Brazier

By Windhorse Publi... on Wed, 27 Feb, 2019 - 15:44

There are just three weeks to go before the publication of our latest book, The Dark Side of the Mirror: forgetting the self in Dōgen’s Genjō Kōan, by respected Buddhist teacher and author David Brazier.

Genjō Kōan is the most important chapter in Zen master Dōgen’s principal major work, the Shōbōgenzō. Although Genjō Kōan is familiar to Buddhists both east and west, it is still not well understood. This new translation and commentary draws back the curtain revealing the deeper meaning of the text in language that...

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Chittamatra (Mind Only)

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 28 Jun, 2018 - 14:54

This FBA Dharmabyte is called Chittamatra (‘Mind-Only’) from the talk The Depth Psychology of the Yogachara by Sangharakshita.

The Yogachara School of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and its doctrine of ‘Mind-Only’ (Chittamatra) crucially influenced the development of Zen. Here the doctrine is related to subjective and absolute idealism in Western philosophy. 

This talk was given in 1967 and is part of the series Aspects of Buddhist Psychology.

Subscribe to the Dharmabytes Podcast.

Triratna Resources
Triratna Resources

Dharma Teaching - Beginners Buddhism: Mahayana Buddhism, A Six-Week Course (Achala)

By Centre Team on Sun, 17 Jul, 2016 - 21:36

Here you can download handouts for a six-week course introducing the various schools of Mahayana Buddhism. The handouts were provided by Achala from New Zealand. Please note that Achala says they all need further improvement! 

This is what Achala said about his intentions when designing this course:

I tried to construct a course such that it:

  • covers what an average human being needs to effectively practice Buddhism.
     
  • doesn’t not have a scholastic bent (so a few Pali/Sanskrit terms seemed reasonable but not so many as
...
Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Meeting Another’s ‘Environment’

By Rijupatha on Thu, 31 Jul, 2014 - 16:52
Today’s FBA Dharmabyte is a curious exploration entitled “Meeting Another’s ‘Environment’.” Sharing the teaching of Lin Chi on ‘environment’ and how we meet a whole container of history, memories, emotions when we meet another. With stories about Hakuin, the Samurai and the Order Member Saghasen in India, this little excerpt packs a punch!

From the talk “The Bliss Bestowing Hands of the True Individual” of the ...
Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Seeing the Mind By Not Seeing It

By Rijupatha on Mon, 28 Jul, 2014 - 16:32
Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Seeing the Mind by Not Seeing It,” is an excerpt from the 1965 talk, “Seeing Into One’s Own Nature and Realising Buddhahood” by Sangharakshita. We are instructed by the Buddha that ‘Mind cannot be seen,’ and yet the Zen Master directs us to ‘See the Mind’. How is the contradiction to be solved?

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Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Dogen on practice as Enlightenment

By Rijupatha on Thu, 12 Jun, 2014 - 20:33
Are you looking at the wall? Or is the wall gazing at you? Another cracking take on Zen – the sutras, the experience, the dangers and the fruits… Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called: “Dogen on Practice as Enlightenment” by Padmavajra. This is from the third in an excellent 8-talk sequence by Padmavajra on Zen Buddhism titled: “Wall Gazing“. The series is full of colourful stories and challenging insights from the...
Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: Direct Pointing

By Rijupatha on Tue, 10 Jun, 2014 - 14:48
Our FBA Dharmabyte today is called: “Direct Pointing” by Sangharakshita. What is the mind? What is projection? What higher states of mind are accessible? Zen challenges us to look directly within our own minds to find out. From the talk, “A Direct Pointing to the Mind of Man” given in 1965 as part of the series The Essence of Zen.

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Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: The Wisdom Hearer

By Rijupatha on Thu, 29 May, 2014 - 15:34
Our FBA Dharmabyte today, “The Wisdom Hearer”, is an excerpt from the fabulous talk “The Sound of Reality” by Padmavajra. In this section we hear Hakuin’s poem of Awakening along with Padmavajra’s reflections on the nature of sound, impermanence and insubstantiality. Vanish into emptiness and silence!

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Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

FBA Podcast: Zen Master Hakuin

By Rijupatha on Mon, 26 May, 2014 - 15:30

FBA Podcast: Zen Master Hakuin

By Rijupatha on Mon, 26 May, 2014 - 15:30In our FBA Podcast today, “Zen Master Hakuin”, Jyotipakshini delivers a wonderful overview of Hakuin’s early life and what led him to becoming a monk. She shares his strengthss and the characteristic aspects of his personality, his determination and intense dedication, as well as his highly critical nature, his struggles and setbacks. We also hear a little about the two schools of Zen and about koan practice, as well as Hakuin’s later life as a...

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