With deepest respect to those on the path, a subjective appreciation of buddhism for the western mind.
Personal reflections, scientific rigour, buddhist methodology. Buddhism as a radical... More > subjectivism, the operating system for a post-modern journeyman.
A primer for the approach to mathematics from meditative practice. Everyday language for subtle mind.< Less
Western Pure Land Buddhism (WPLB) is the name I have given to one of the latest teachings of the Mahayana Pure Land tradition. It shares with all other Buddhist groups the ideal of attaining Nirvana,... More > not just for oneself, but also for all beings. Thus the goal of one's life is to realize Buddhahood in order to help others see this world of birth-and-death (samsara) as Nirvana. Where WPLB differs from most other Buddhists is in teaching that Buddhahood is a gift to us from Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life, and that we acknowledge that gift by the saying of Nembutsu (Namah Amida Buddha).
The life of Nembutsu consists of chanting the Nembutsu and teaching others the way. It is to live a life without fear. And to join with others to better achieve these goals.< Less
Western Pure Land Buddhism (WPLB) is the name I have given to one of the latest teachings of the Mahayana Pure Land tradition. It shares with all other Buddhist groups the ideal of attaining Nirvana,... More > not just for oneself, but also for all beings. Thus the goal of one's life is to realize Buddhahood in order to help others see this world of birth-and-death (samsara) as Nirvana. Where WPLB differs from most other Buddhists is in teaching that Buddhahood is a gift to us from Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life, and that we acknowledge that gift by the saying of Nembutsu (Namah Amida Buddha).
The life of Nembutsu consists of chanting the Nembutsu and teaching others the way. It is to live a life without fear. And to join with others to better achieve these goals.< Less
This book is a critique of Buddhism by a philosopher with about 20 years' experience of practising Buddhism. It attempts to judge Buddhism by the standards of its own key insight of the Middle Way.... More > This book argues that Buddhism has often abandoned the Middle Way and allowed dogmatic metaphysical assumptions to take its place. The Buddha criticised appeals to metaphysics, yet many of the trappings of traditional Buddhism are built on it - whether these are karma and rebirth, the revelations of the enlightened and their scriptures, dependent origination, the interpretation of the Four Noble "Truths", alienated idealisations of love, or rituals that celebrate metaphysics rather than insight. This is not a purely negative book, but an attempt at a balanced appraisal of Buddhism with praise as well as criticism. In the West we have an opportunity to evaluate Buddhism anew and reform it so that it best applies its own insights.< Less
A comprehensive resource in a succinct alphabetical format that brings the essence of Buddhism to heart and mind. Buddhism from A to Zen: A Westerner’s Guide to Key Buddhist Concepts provides... More > for the reader the scaffolding on which to begin a study of Buddhism and serves as a practical tool for revealing the meaning and connectedness of Buddhist thought.< Less
A comprehensive resource in a succinct alphabetical format that brings the essence of Buddhism to heart and mind. Buddhism from A to Zen: A Westerner’s Guide to Key Buddhist Concepts provides... More > for the reader the scaffolding on which to begin a study of Buddhism and serves as a practical tool for revealing the meaning and connectedness of Buddhist thought.< Less
Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki. The object of this book is twofold: (1) To refute the many wrong opinions which are entertained by Western critics concerning the fundamental... More > teachings of Mahayana Buddhism ; (2) To awake interest among scholars of comparative religion in the development of the religious sentiment and faith as exemplified by the growth of one of the most powerful spiritual forces in the world. The book is therefore at once popular and scholarly. It is popular in the sense that it tries to expose the fallacy of the general attitude assumed by other religionists towards Mahayanism. It aims to be scholarly, on the other hand, when it endeavors to expound some of the most salient features of the doctrine, historically and systematically. Reproduction of 1907 Edition.< Less
Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki. The object of this book is twofold: (1) To refute the many wrong opinions which are entertained by Western critics concerning the fundamental... More > teachings of Mahayana Buddhism ; (2) To awake interest among scholars of comparative religion in the development of the religious sentiment and faith as exemplified by the growth of one of the most powerful spiritual forces in the world. The book is therefore at once popular and scholarly. It is popular in the sense that it tries to expose the fallacy of the general attitude assumed by other religionists towards Mahayanism. It aims to be scholarly, on the other hand, when it endeavors to expound some of the most salient features of the doctrine, historically and systematically. Reproduction of 1907 Edition.< Less
Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki. The object of this book is twofold: (1) To refute the many wrong opinions which are entertained by Western critics concerning the fundamental... More > teachings of Mahayana Buddhism ; (2) To awake interest among scholars of comparative religion in the development of the religious sentiment and faith as exemplified by the growth of one of the most powerful spiritual forces in the world. The book is therefore at once popular and scholarly. It is popular in the sense that it tries to expose the fallacy of the general attitude assumed by other religionists towards Mahayanism. It aims to be scholarly, on the other hand, when it endeavors to expound some of the most salient features of the doctrine, historically and systematically. Reproduction of 1907 Edition.< Less
In this book I address the need for a critical treatment of karma for practitioners of Buddhism in the West. I discuss the basic meaning of karma and its relevance to western Buddhism. Emphasis is... More > on the impact of the scientific world-view, interest in meditation and attitudes towards reincarnation. A generalized approach provides analysis and constructive terminology for thinking about karma and reincarnation. Terms such as karmic awareness and karmic significance point to an epistemology of karma. "Karmic analysis" extends the meaning of karma to art, history and literature. Karma is shown to be implicit in all cultures.
Topics include the significance of death, the nature of action, sin, salvation and blame. Karmic cause and effect is contrasted with scientific causality. A distinction is drawn between the contemplative life and thinking about karma mainly in terms of a set of propositions to be proven as true or false.< Less
