Tag Archives: Buddhism

We are all Hungry Ghosts

Posted on September 2, 2020 by jyourist

Today is the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrated during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, known as Ghost Month, coinciding with the full moon. It is celebrated in Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism and also in many East Asian folk religions. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, enlightenment, oneness, reincarnation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Relax” by Ellen Bass

Posted on July 20, 2016 by jyourist

Bad things are going to happen. Your tomatoes will grow a fungus and your cat will get run over. Someone will leave the bag with the ice cream melting in the car and throw your blue cashmere sweater in the … Continue reading →

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Gyoban on the porch

Posted on June 9, 2016 by jyourist

JB has been making gyobans lately. He has made them for friends and family and just finished one for us which we hung on the back porch. We first saw a gyoban when we were in Japan visiting Basho’s grave. … Continue reading →

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Kensho

Posted on October 23, 2015 by jyourist

Kensho, 見性, in Japanese and in the Zen tradition, means initial insight or awakening, but not yet full Buddhahood or satori. It literally means “seeing” (ken) “nature” or “essence” (sho).

Posted in Buddhism, enlightenment, Japan, short films, Zen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Buddha’s footprint in Bloomington, Indiana

Posted on August 16, 2015 by jyourist

We just got back from an Indiana roadtrip initiated in part by a wedding we wanted to attend of the daughter of old friends who live there. We stretched the trip into a few extra days to vacation and explore, … Continue reading →

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I am awake

Posted on April 8, 2014 by jyourist

In the context of sakura (cherry blossoms) blooming in Japan, Hana Matsuri, The Japanese Flower Festival, celebrates the birth of Buddha some 2500 years ago. To commemorate this auspicious day is the following traditional story adapted from Art of Dharma. It is … Continue reading →

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My dentist is an artist

Posted on August 12, 2013 by jyourist

The photo above is what I stared at for the last two hours. My dentist was trying to save a crown but apparently my root had fractured so we needed to move to implant stage. He decided to create a … Continue reading →

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“The Paradox of our Age” by the 14th Dalai Lama

Posted on July 6, 2013 by jyourist

We have bigger houses but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicines but less healthiness. We’ve been all the way to … Continue reading →

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How my Prius C continually teaches me mindfulness

Posted on June 13, 2013 by jyourist

Sometimes when I show up at work, I have no memory of how I got there. It’s a 20 mile drive and sometimes I am surprised, as I grab my briefcase from the trunk of the car, that I have … Continue reading →

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Vesak Day

Posted on May 22, 2013 by jyourist

This morning during advisory, one of my students handed me a Vesak card which was designed by her father. This auspicious day, the first full moon in May (as celebrated in Vietnam and Southeast Asia) commemorates Buddha’s birth, death, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddha, compassion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments