Talking about money within a Soto Zen Buddhist community like ours can be uncomfortable for some people.. There is a fairly widespread tendency to think that the spiritual should be outside of any economic issue., as if simply naming money taints the purity of the practice. However, … Read more
Every year, in december, our community gathers to remember the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. A way to stop and recognize that the awakening that the Buddha accomplished continues to live on in our practice., in every step, in every moment of our daily lives. This celebration is not intended to reconstruct a historical episode or idealize heroism. … Read more
Meditating in a group is one of the most direct ways to experience the interconnection between all beings.. In the practice of Soto Zen Buddhism, zazen is not just an individual practice, It is a living expression of our common unity. Practicing with other people reinforces perseverance and helps us enter more easily … Read more
When the light of conscience turns against itself The term gaslighting comes from an ancient play in which a man manipulated his wife to make her doubt her own perception of reality.. Since then, The word has become popular and is used to describe a form … Read more
In our tradition, during the bodhisattva ceremony the ketsumyaku is given, whose translation could literally be "flow of blood". Beyond its literal meaning, For our community it represents the living transmission of the Dharma, the spiritual continuity that links our current practice with that of Shakyamuni Buddha more than twenty-five centuries ago. El ketsumyaku … Read more
In Buddhism Soto Zen we recite every day the sutra of great wisdom, donde mushotoku, practice without looking for anything in return, It is a central term. But, How to do something without expecting anything in return? When we sit in zazen, We do not pursue special states or accumulate merits. It's not about reaching a prize … Read more
I'm dreaming roads, I'm dreaming of the afternoon. The Colinadoradas, The green pines,The dusty holm oaks!... where will the way go?I'm singing, traveler along the path...-the afternoon is falling-.«In my heart I had«the thorn of a passion;«I managed to tear it out one day:"I don't feel the heart anymore". And the whole field stays for a moment, mute and gloomy,meditating. Sounds … Read more
One of the most frequent phenomena in the practice of zazen is sleep.. Many people, especially at the beginning, They are surprised to discover that as soon as they adopt the position, the mind begins to cloud, The eyelids become heavy and in a short time they find themselves nodding or even falling into a slight drowsiness.. To … Read more
The history of Zen Buddhism has been woven, mostly, With male voices. The most cited figures in the transmission texts are men. But on the margins of those official stories, Many women have sustained practice with the same determination, With clarity without ornaments, with a commitment that has rarely been … Read more
Within the framework of Buddhism Soto Zen, Meditation retreats (sesshin) They are intensive practice moments, where life is simplified to the essential and the mind finds a favorable space to settle. Far from noise and daily occupations, Retreating for a few days or a week allows us to reconnect with what truly matters. … Read more