The Great Bright Pearl: Soto Zen’s Journey from Ancient India to American Soil
This article traces the journey from Siddhartha to Bodhidharma, to Dōgen and mountain monasteries, to urban zendos and American homes.
Buddhism
From noble silence to scientific insight.
Explore Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ethics—bridging ancient practice with modern contemplative science.
Silent Illumination: The Life and Legacy of Japanese Sōtō Zen Monasticism
Sōtō Zen was born from a deep current of wisdom that flows from India through China to Japan, shaped not by conquest or proclamation, but by the gentle, steadfast practice of sitting in silence.
The Taste of Liberation: How Buddhism Reached Every Corner of the Earth
This article traces the global journey of the Dharma, beginning with the Buddha’s lifetime and spreading outward across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
Zen Yoga: Yogācāra
This article explores Zen Yoga, the practice of meditative inquiry grounded in the Yogācāra school of Mahāyāna Buddhism.
From Forest Shrines to Global Zen: The Evolution of Japanese Monastic Life
This article traces the journey of Japanese monasticism—from its earliest roots to its global flowering—revealing a tradition that, though ancient, remains vibrantly alive.
Chinese Chan Buddhist Monasticism: The Spring of Zen
This article follows the story of Chan from its earliest roots in India and Daoist China, through its flowering in Tang and Song dynasties, and outward into the temples, poetry, and practices of East Asia.
Zen’s Founding Scripture
explore the founding scriptures — the Lankavatara Sutra, the Outline of Practice, and Trust in Mind — through which the Chan spirit first found its voice.
Zen Literature: Essential Reading for the Student of Zen
In these pages, we will follow the unfolding of Zen from its Indian and Chinese foundations to its flowering in Japan and its transmission to the West.
Chinese Buddhist Monasticism
Chinese Buddhist monasticism is one of the most enduring and transformative religious traditions in East Asia.
Freemasonry and Zen: A Contemplative Brotherhood
The Zen Master, the Master Mason, and the scientific humanist may use different tools—zafu, square and compass, or microscope—but all seek the same outcome: a well-built world and a well-formed person.
The First Monks Rise in the East: The Birth of Monasticism
This article traces the delicate thread that links the barefoot sages of ancient India with the Zen monks of Japan, the Christian mystics of the desert, and the Buddhist nuns of today.
Buddhist Alchemy
Explore the hidden tradition of Buddhist Alchemy, where ancient spiritual science meets inner transformation.