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.
ZEN
Stillness. Clarity. The Way of Zen.
Explore the depth and clarity of Zen—its philosophy, meditation practices, monastic traditions, and its role in cultivating awareness, simplicity, and compassionate action in the modern world.
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.
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.
Redefining Faith: The New Scientific Humanist Priesthood
As we face serious global challenges, more and more of humanity is turning to evidence-based solutions, changing the role of traditional religious authority in politics.
Zen Buddhist Meditation
While there are a number of schools of Zen, this article will focus on the Japanese Soto sect teaching of shikantaza, or “just sitting” method of meditation, probably the most straight-forward example of Zen Buddhist meditation.
Chinese Chan Buddhist Meditation
Chinese mystics adopted and adapted Buddhism to their needs, replacing the Indian focus on dharana, or concentration, with Daoist cultivation in meditation. This practice of sitting meditation, known as zuo chan, would eventually flower into Chan Buddhism.