Tag Archives: buddhist

Ethics from a Zen Buddhist Perspective

In seeking to express Christian teaching in a pluralistic world, I think it is imperative that we come to an understanding of, not only atheist ethics, but alternative ethics as well. For this reason I would recommend reading “Zen as a Social Ethics of Responsiveness” by T. P. Kasulis. I find it a overly simplistic inContinue reading “Ethics from a Zen Buddhist Perspective”

Unimpressed by the Dhammapada

Not overly impressed by the Dhammapada … which I finally got around to finishing this evening. Very repetitive. Lots of do bad and you’ll be damned, do good and you’ll be blessed kind of stuff. Like the book of Proverbs without the essential grace aspect. Not nearly as interesting as the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā by Nagarjuna. I supposeContinue reading “Unimpressed by the Dhammapada”

An Introduction to Pure Land Buddism

The following extract is from “River of Fire, River of Water: An Introduction to the Pure Land Tradition of Shin Buddhism” by Taitetsu Unno. Pure Land Buddhism, though relatively unknown in the West, is the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. It emphasises tariki or “other-power”, rather than jiriki (“self-power”), which comes through entrusting oneself to Amida Buddha.Continue reading “An Introduction to Pure Land Buddism”

What do Buddhist’s believe?

Following is an extract from “The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path” by Sangharakshita. I find it helpful as an introduction to Buddhism as it highlights how the Buddhist understanding of “right vision” can be understood in terms of images as well as concepts. There are two principal ways a vision can be communicated – through imagesContinue reading “What do Buddhist’s believe?”

Zen and the Art of Car Maintenance

Buddhist auto repair? Sometime a little bit of materialism ain’t all that bad. Reflecting on Deuteronomy 15:7-8: “If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend themContinue reading “Zen and the Art of Car Maintenance”