Meeting others with Openness

Zen Simplicity. Intellectual Complexity

Quando vediamo le guerre nel mondo, l'istinto è di dividere in buoni e cattivi. Ma il Buddha insegna: "Con l'astio le azioni ostili giammai si placano; è con l'amicizia che si placano". 

Come l'ossigeno in aereo: prima stabilizza te stesso, poi aiuta gli altri. Se agiamo portando odio nel cuore, perpetuiamo solo il ciclo di violenza. Non è facile, forse impossibile per molti. Ma anche solo orientarci verso la non-violenza interiore è già un passo verso la pace. 

Cosa emerge nel tuo cuore di fronte alla violenza?

Riflessioni di Dharma registrate da Sirimedho Stefano De Luca nel gruppo di meditazione dell'Associazione Kalyanamitta il 5 settembre 2025.  

Se vuoi partecipare agli incontri, vai sul nostro sito www.kalyanamitta.it, sezione Partecipa / Gruppi di meditazione.

Ep. 499 Riflessioni sull'astio

Build yourself as beautiful as you want your world to be. Wrap yourself in light then give yourself away with your heart, your brush, your march, your art, your poetry, your play. And for every day you paint the war, take a week and paint the beauty, the color, the shape of the landscape you’re marching towards. Everyone knows what you’re against, show them what you’re for. Andrea Gibson

2025 09 02 I Inquiry I Compassion has no enemies I Trudy Johnston

Recorded at the Tergar Madison Community Center August 28, 2025

Opening the Lens, Meeting Life with Curiosity and Clarity with Kasumi Kato [20250828] (TMAD)

The temple bell stops–

but the sound keeps coming
out of the flowers.

~ Basho 

The Five Remembrances



I am of the nature to age.



I think of ageing as a gift, 

we who do grow old,

are fortunate to feel 

our bodies

slide

as time winds its way across the 

landscape of our being. 

to soften, sag, tire, 

blur and fail to hear the world 

speaking to us quite so clearly. 

It means

we are still here.

swimming into the 

long tide.

I cherish the marks 

of my existence.





I am of the nature to get sick.



Thank goodness I am of the nature 

to get sick.

for it means I have a body

that breathes and

a heart that

beats, and muscles

that can support my steps

through life.

This precious blood that thrums through 

my veins

is a tributary of the mighty

river of life.

It joins me to the flow of the

beating universe.

And as I swim in it, I am fallible and

will fail. 

Sickness tells me

I am yet here, 

and grateful.





I am of the nature to die. 



Death joins me to the whole of life.

if I can die 

I am not separate from 

the mighty inexorable tides 

of life.

Trees, birds, oceans, stars

and human animals, have their seasons.

We are all part of this ebb and 

flux. 

to not die would be an

impenetrable separateness,

alone with endless life.

to know I’m going to die

is to join in with the ever changing 

chorus of life.

hallelujah.





All that is dear to me and everyone I love 

are of the nature to change. 

There is no way to escape 

being separated from them.





Ah the blessedness of change,

of a life we live in turmoil.

How suffering can arrive

out of the clear blue sky.

How we can not hold on

to anything. 

Can we learn to love and

let go, love and 

let go. 

What we can’t be certain of,

which is, of course, all things,

acquires tenderness and beauty

in its fragility.

The cup that we drink from

is already broken.

Knowing that isn’t it 

more dear?

We are all blossoms

on the great tree of life.

we will all flower and fall. 



My only true possessions are my actions, 

and I cannot escape their consequences.



I build my life, piece by piece.

Most often unable to see

where the ends of 

the threads

I’m weaving into the

fabric of my life

come from, or go to.

I don’t get to choose all the colours, 

or the patterns in what I make.

I swim in the 10,000 reasons,

trying as best I can

not to make things worse.

And of course i do.

The smallness of my vision and 

world, cannot encompass

the vast pitiless magnificence 

of life.

Still 

I can try

and 

I do.


 The Five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski Zen Buddhist teacher, and co-founder of the Zen Hospice are teachings on death that provide guidance and navigation through the dying process. Learning about death teaches us about how to live, and about the uncertainty of end-of-life care. We discover that learning about death can be an excellent companion to living fully.



The Five Invitations are:

1) Don’t wait, 

2) Welcome everything, push away nothing, 

3) Bring your whole self to the experience, 

4) Find a place to rest in the middle of things,

5) Cultivate don’t-know mind.



May these invitations support you as you journey through life and through death.


2025-09-04 | The Temple Bell Stops | Trudy Johnston

Life Koans

Continuing in the vein of Venerable Juewei's wonderful wisdom series over the past 2 months, we are delighted to invite NTI alumni and our community friend Ben Campbell to facilitate the month of September. 

Ben has prepared a short activity for us and shared the following pre-session musings.

Last month, Venerable Juewei shared the story of the fish in water, which was a powerful story about how sometimes, the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about. 

This week, we'll be invited to explore one of these areas -- our social class -- and the ways we relate to money and other resources. As an entry into this session, consider pondering the following questions: 
1. What is your relationship to money? 
2. How has your access to resources, financial or otherwise, impacted your journey? 

The Water we Swim in - Social Class

Faith, Doubt, & the Spiritual Path With Dr Scott Anderson [20250911] (TMAD)

"Boundless Treasure" is a song about stepping out of the "small comfort blues" and into a world of limitless purpose. With a sound that blends the soulful introspection of the blues with the storytelling heart of folk music, the song tracks a powerful spiritual awakening. It's a reminder that the most profound peace isn't found in isolation, but in the wildfire of compassion that makes us whole. This is a song for the journey from a lonely room to a wilder garden where every soul can bloom.

Lyrics:
Boundless Treasure

Verse 1 — Bluesy Lament

I built my little fence, thought my soul was free
Carved a quiet corner where no storm could reach me
Satisfied with crumbs, called that fortune mine
Never saw the treasure just beyond the line
That small-comfort silence kept my spirit tied
Till a restless wind began to question why

Chorus — Folk Revelation

Then a whisper in the wind, a voice that wouldn’t hide
“Friend, the greatness you were born for is burning deep inside!
Not just a shallow peace, but a wildfire in your soul
A boundless treasure waiting to make the broken whole.
Your great hidden heart, wide as the endless skies,
An infinite potential you can no longer disguise.”

Verse 2 — The Foolish Man Reimagined

Like a ragged wanderer who never knew his worth,
Carrying a fortune sewn the day he came to earth,
A priceless jewel hidden deep inside his coat,
Years of hungry miles with not a single note.
The wealth was there within him, no gift to receive,
Only a light to uncover, only a truth to believe.

Chorus — Folk Revelation

Then a whisper in the wind, a voice that wouldn’t hide
“Friend, the greatness you were born for is burning deep inside!
Not just a shallow peace, but a wildfire in your soul
A boundless treasure waiting to make the broken whole.
Your great hidden heart, wide as the endless skies,
An infinite potential you can no longer disguise.”

Bridge — From Me to We

Can’t just guard my own heart, can’t walk this road alone,
True living’s in the giving, in the seeds of love we’ve sown.
From narrow self-protection to a vision broad and clear,
Every mile of exile taught me to draw others near.
The end of private striving was only the start,
To lift the tired and fallen with an open heart.

Outro — Resolute & Hopeful

No longer blind, with my eyes open wide,
I’ve got a universal spirit with nowhere left to hide.
I’ll plant a wilder garden where every soul can bloom,
Step out of that lonely silence, leave the self-made room.
On a boundless journey, finding joy that won’t decay,
In every simple kindness, lighting someone’s way.

Boundless Treasure

Tergar Meditation Community supports individuals, practice groups, and meditation communities around the world in learning to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Grounded in the Tibetan Buddhist lineage of our guiding teacher Mingyur Rinpoche, our online and in-person programs are accessible to people of all cultures and faiths, and support a lifelong path toward the application of these principles in everyday life. For more information, visit tergar.org.

Please like and share. 
Welcome to the musical world of The William Altig Choir, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary sound.

Inspired by the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and infused with deep spiritual themes, my music blends the rich traditions of blues and folk with modern elements, creating a unique fusion that resonates with both the heart and soul.

I've been captivated by the Lotus Sutra's messages of compassion, wisdom, and transformation since my youth. It's a journey of self-discovery that has found its voice in my music. Each song is a reflection of my own spiritual awakening and a celebration of universal truths.

My style is characterized by emotive storytelling, powerful lyrics, and a commitment to exploring the depths of human experience. Featuring contemplative blues, acoustic slide guitar, saxophone melodies, and the harmonies of a gospel choir, my music reflects a quest for enlightenment and a better understanding of the self.

Join me on this musical journey. Together, we can explore the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, finding solace, hope, and a deeper connection to the world around us.

#SpiritualMusic  #LotusSutraMusic  #ContemplativeBlues  #BuddhistGospel #AcousticSlideGuitar  #GospelChoir  #Self-Discovery  #SpiritualAwakening  #Hope  #The_William_Altig_Choir

The Humanistic Buddhism Centre (HBC) is committed to the research and development of Humanistic Buddhism as well as community engagement.  The Centre identifies and undertakes innovative projects that contribute to the scholarly and teaching communities.  Besides facilitating inter-disciplinary research and course-ware development that contributes to the Nan Tien Institute’s teaching programs, the Centre also participates in outreach programmes such as podcasts, workshops, and exhibitions.  This podcast collection houses resources on Humanistic Buddhism that will be useful to students, educators and informed Buddhists.

Just This Zen Community

Zazen – just sitting – is the foundation of our practice. At the heart of our community is our shared commitment to compassionate inquiry, mutual care and deep gratitude, demonstrated through our everyday actions, words and thoughts. This practice supports our aspiration to open to all of life, as an expression of the timeless wisdom of Buddha’s Way.

We welcome people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, classes, religions, abilities, and ages. We are committed to providing a safe place for all people to explore the dharma and awaken to their true nature.

We want to offer our deep gratitude and thanks to all the innumerable people whose practice and dedication have kept the flame of the dharma alive and well. We want to acknowledge that our western iteration of practice rests on the efforts of all those who practised for centuries in their own non-western cultures.

The Ordinary Mind Zen School Sydney podcast consists of Dharma talks given by Geoff Dawson.

Nel podcast dell'Associazione Kalyanamitta (una volta "Terrapura"), proponiamo meditazioni guidate nella tradizione buddhista e in quella laica della mindfulness e riflessioni e insegnamenti del Dharma Buddhista, adatti a principianti ed esperti.

WEB: https://kalyanamitta.it/
Telegram: t.me/associazione_kalyanamitta
FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/165ppkmRqK/

New tracks tagged #DHARMA