What are the five aggregates? In Buddhism, they are the building blocks that we typically use to construct our sense of self. The Buddha classified the constituents of body and mind into five categories known as “the five aggregates of clinging”: form, feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness. In his book Satipatthana: The Direct Path to … Read more
Ryokan (1758-1831), long beloved in Japan for his delightful verse, exquisite calligraphy, and eccentric character, belongs in the tradition of great Zen poets of Asian literature. His parents named him Eizo, but when he entered the monkhood in 1777 at the local Zen temple Kosho-ji, he adopted the name Ryokan: ryo, meaning good and kan, … Read more
What are the twelve links of dependent origination in Buddhism? A better question to ask, in my opinion, would be, “Why do we suffer?” In Buddhism, the main source of our suffering is traced to our boundless cravings, contained in the Second Noble Truth. We crave many things but the most powerful among them is … Read more
“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like,” Will Rogers famously said. Indeed, in our relentless pursuit of buying and accumulation, we have become the pack-horses of our possessions. Things are in the saddle and run our lives. Instead of bringing relief, every … Read more