Tricycle - Awake in the World

Himalayan Buddhist Art 101: Controversial Art, Part 1 - Dorje Shugden

Alex Caring-Lobel — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:13:11 +0000

Buddhist practice and Buddhist art have been inseparable in the Himalayas ever since Buddhism arrived to the region in the eighth century. But for the casual observer it can be difficult to make sense of the complex iconography. Not to worry—Himalayan art scholar Jeff Watt is here to help. In this "Himalayan Buddhist Art 101" series, Jeff is making sense of this rich artistic tradition by presenting weekly images from the Himalayan Art Resources archives and explaining their roles in the Buddhist tradition.

Controversial Art, Part 1: Dorje Shugden

The Ban on Rupert Sheldrake's TED Talk

Alex Caring-Lobel — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:54:30 +0000

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Scientist Rupert Sheldrake’s recent work lays bare many of the unexamined assumptions common in mainstream science. I was very pleased to find that the first online comment on “A Question of Faith,” my interview with Sheldrake in the new issue, brought up the ban on his TED talk, and was from a scientist, at that. The commenter—a physician—explained how the ban caused him to rethink the effect of scientific dogma in his own practice. This convinced me that the ban itself is quite revealing. Proponents of the ban may have celebrated their early success, but the result has been more complex in that it has provided fodder for Sheldrake’s arguments.

Consider the Source: Why is Mahayana Buddhism a "snow zone tradition"?

Emma Varvaloucas — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:17:25 +0000

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Consider the Source: Why is Mahayana Buddhism a "snow zone tradition"?

If you look on a map, you’ll see that the spread of Mahayana Buddhism matches places where the winters are bad and it snows a lot. Why? In warmer climates in India, monks could live in the forest, taking refuge in temporary structures to wait out the rainy season. But in northern climates, the long winters demanded better protection, so home-leaving monks had only two choices: they could live in a cave or in a monastery.

Treasury of Lives: Nyingma Founders Part 4, The Jangter

Alex Caring-Lobel — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:54:11 +0000

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Biography and autobiography in Tibet are important sources for both education and inspiration. Tibetans have kept such meticulous records of their teachers that thousands of names are known and discussed in a wide range of biographical material. All these names, all these lives—it can be a little overwhelming. The authors involved in the Treasury of Lives are currently mining the primary sources to provide English-language biographies of every known religious teacher from Tibet and the Himalaya, all of which are organized for easy searching and browsing. Every Tuesday on the Tricycle blog, we will highlight and reflect on important, interesting, eccentric, surprising and beautiful stories found within this rich literary tradition.

Consider the Source: Why did Zen monks live in caves?

Emma Varvaloucas — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:22:05 +0000

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Consider the Source: Why did Zen monks live in caves?

While Zen monks did live in caves in part to find refuge from the elements, there’s more to the story than just avoiding thunderstorms—they were also hiding out from the government. Ancient Chinese kings were loath to let too many “home-leavers” skip out on paying taxes, serving in the army, growing food, or having children—the activities needed for a country to survive and for kings to live in style. The king viewed monks who claimed exemption from these activities just because they wanted to practice meditation as deadbeats or brigands. Monks who were caught were defrocked or worse.

Tricycle Short Film Trailer Release: Amituofo

Andrew Gladstone — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

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"A lot of people believe that martial arts was born in the Shaolin Temple. That's not true. When the Chinese people were born, martial arts was born. But the Shaolin Temple was the first place to combine all the martial arts together."

—Shifu Shi Yan Ming, abbot of the USA Shaolin Temple

Third Week of Pat Enkyo O'Hara Roshi's Retreat: To Be Awakened

Andrew Gladstone — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

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In the third week's teaching of Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara's retreat, "To Be Awakened," she addresses the third slogan of Zen Master Dogen from the Genjokoan: To forget the self is be enlightened by the myriad things.

"Every thing is an opportunity to wake up," says Enkyo Roshi, "but we have to be open to it, and recognize it." We often come to think of enlightenment as an abstract, idealized state. But actually, enlightenment often lies in the most mundane moments and experiences. Or as Enkyo Roshi puts it, "We are looking so hard for something that we don't recognize that it's right here." By sitting, quieting our mind, and becoming intimate with ourselves, she reminds us, we can connect to the wholeness and security of the universe.

Buddha Buzz: The Transsexual Monk, The Million Bottle Temple, and The Accidental Prime Minister

Emma Varvaloucas — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:21:55 +0000

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Only in Thailand: Sorrawee Nattee, the 2009 winner of the Thai "Miss Tiffany" transsexual beauty contest, has removed his breast implants and become a monk. That's what I call getting the best of both worlds, since women in Thailand are unable to receive full ordination...

Himalayan Buddhist Art 101: The Vajra Scepter, Part 1

Emma Varvaloucas — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:28:23 +0000

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The Vajra Scepter, Part 1: Multiple Meanings

News Brief: Mindfulness Conquers World

Emma Varvaloucas — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:36:57 +0000

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This just in from The NewsLeek, Buddhism's Finest News Source.

Mindfulness Conquers World

BOSTON, May 1, 2013—The International Mindfulness Foundation (IMF) today announced that mindfulness has officially succeeded in conquering the world. “Now that global leaders in business, government, the military, health care, academia, and the media have fully embraced the practice of mindfulness at home and in the workplace,” stated IMF chairman Hugh Briss at a major press conference, “we at IMF have declared full and final victory in the war on mindlessness.”

Treasury of Lives: Lotsawa Loden Sherab and Lotsawa Zhonnu Pel

Alex Caring-Lobel — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:38:03 +0000

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Second Week of Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara's Retreat: To Forget the Self

Andrew Gladstone — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

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In the second week of Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara's retreat, "To Forget the Self," she expounds on the second slogan of Zen Master Dogen from the Genjokoan: To study the self is to forget the self.

To forget the self, Enkyo Roshi says, is to forget the idea of the self: its story and its inclination toward avoiding and clinging to various phenomena. We forget the self when we shift our attention to the present, to the constantly shifting flow of moment-to-moment reality. In that presence, when our internal monologue drops away, we forget the self and are free to feel the flow of life around us.

Buddha Buzz: Marijuana-filled Buddhas, HHDL speak out on Burma, and some good ol' Buddhist Americana

Alex Caring-Lobel — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:10:24 +0000

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Earlier this week US Customs and Border Protection officials seized nearly 600 lbs of pot inside a shipment of Buddha statues and other religious figurines. Officials at the El Paso US-Mexico crossing discovered the narcotics—and an alternate explanation for the Buddha's contented grin—with the help of an irreverent, drug-sniffing dog. No arrests have been made.

Himalayan Buddhist Art 101: Sacred Geometry, Part 2

Alex Caring-Lobel — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:41:29 +0000

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Sacred Geometry, Part 1

Sacred Geometry, Part 2: The Tetrahedron

Eastern Self/Western Self

Emma Varvaloucas — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:45:11 +0000

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Eastern Self/Western Self

We in the West are quite concerned these days with how to make the dharma authentically Western. But caution please, folks. Before we start inventing a new flavor of Buddhism to suit Western palettes, it is important to look closely at the implicit assumptions we are bringing to this project.

Bearly Zen

Emma Varvaloucas — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:50:50 +0000

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Meet Bearly Zen, the most dedicated member of the Village Zendo sangha in lower Manhattan!
This photo was snapped while we filmed the Village Zendo's abbot, Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, for her May retreat, "Recognizing the Self." Watch the first week's teaching here (free for everyone!). Enkyo Roshi told us that Bearly Zen is always facing the appropriate way—towards the wall for meditation, away from the wall for chanting—but she never sees anyone move him. A very dedicated practitioner, indeed!

Treasury of Lives: Nyingma Founders Part 3, Nyangrel Nyima Ozer

Alex Caring-Lobel — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:54:26 +0000

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Sitting for Good: The Brooklyn Sit-a-thon

Rachel — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:29:38 +0000

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This Friday, May 11, Brooklyn Zen Center will hold a day-long sit-a-thon to raise funds for the Awake Youth Project, a program that the Zen center runs in partnership with Brooklyn College Community Partnership to bring mindfulness and meditation programs to Brooklyn youth. "Many of the young people with whom we work live with considerable economic hardship and risk for violence," say the staff members of Awake Youth Project, "They struggle with enormous stress, anxiety, anger and other strong emotions that make an already demanding life schedule all the more difficult. Consequently Awake Youth Project’s high school-based groups employ meditation and mindfulness practices to address the many challenges in the lives of our youth."

New Online Retreat: Recognizing the Self

Andrew Gladstone — Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

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Our new May online retreat, "Recognizing the Self," with Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, abbot of the Village Zendo in Manhattan, focuses on the importance of recognizing ourselves and maintaining that integrity in the often confusing cacophony of modern society.

Organized into a study of Zen Master Dogen's three fundamental slogans—to study the enlightened way is to study the self; to study the self is to forget the self; and to forget the self is to be enlightened by the myriad things—Enkyo Roshi guides us to her own final conclusion: to be enlightened by the myriad things opens you to the bodhisattva path.

Today's retreat teaching, "To Study the Self," tackles the first slogan. Enkyo Roshi emphasizes bringing our attention to and being intimate with ourselves, regardless of our recognitions or criticisms. By "turning the light inward," as Dogen says, we can become present in this moment and begin this very special consideration of who we really are.

Buddha Buzz: Sex Tape and the Sangha

Alex Caring-Lobel — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:42:37 +0000

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In Lowell, Massachusetts, a sex-tape scandal involves neither unscrupulous celebrities nor hapless victims of disgruntled exes, but a Buddhist temple, a monk, and a community organizer with some shady finances. The city's Cambodian community has been rocked by the recording of prominent community leader Maya Men having sex with a monk—in a temple. Both Men and the monk, Ven. Nhem Kimteng, were part of an executive committee responsible for fundraising and overseeing the construction of a new $10 million temple, thus involving the area's sizable Cambodian community, which settled in Lowell in the 1970s following the Khmer Rouge-led genocide in Cambodia. The committee was already mired in controversy with accusations of suspicious finances and a lack of transparency.