by Daniel Belum | Jun 25, 2019 | Buddhist Philosophy
I’d like to share a perspective on useful emptiness. To get there though, first a comment about judgement, and a sutra or two, and my favorite Chinese Patriarch. A few years back I posted a thought to a popular social media site that said: “What if enlightenment was...
by Daniel Belum | May 9, 2019 | Buddhist Philosophy, Uncategorized
Many people join a religion as a way to deal with death and dying. Now, Buddhism makes no bones about the importance of dealing with death. It is part of the first of the Four Noble Truths and said that the Buddha began his journey once he recognized that everyone...
by Daniel Belum | Apr 30, 2019 | Buddhist Philosophy, Uncategorized
Sit You can use a meditation cushion (zafu) or meditators bench (Seiza Bench) or just use a chair. If using a chair (which I often do), make sure it is a solid one (no desk chairs with wheels). Sit toward the front edge of your chair. Once you are sitting, you’ll want...
by Daniel Belum | Apr 23, 2019 | Buddhist Philosophy, Uncategorized
Here in my home town in Ohio, there is a house that was rented and converted into the local center for a specific sect of Buddhism. A few months later, a monk moved in and now lives there. Other groups used the facility as well and on occasion, the Westerners that...
by Daniel Belum | Apr 12, 2019 | Buddhist Philosophy, Uncategorized
Recently someone asked how long it will take me to go from being a novice (sramanera) to a full-fledged monk. In my order, there is no direct timeline. Although some things that need to be accomplished have to be done a specific number of times or for a certain...
