The Eight Awakenings of the Great Beings Before his death, the Buddha gave his disciples one final teaching so they could continue on the path of full awareness eternally: the Eight Awakenings of the Great Beings. The great beings are the Buddhas, the awakened ones, those who follow the path of full awareness. Practicing these…
The Ten Stages of Ox Herding: A Zen Teaching The Ten Stages of Ox Herding is a well-known Zen teaching, and perhaps one of the first stories we encounter when beginning the study of Zen. In a conventional academic career, we acquire knowledge, complete courses, and earn degrees. However, in the Zen tradition, the use…
What does Bodhicitta or Bodaishin mean? Bodaishin (Japanese) or Bodhicitta (Sanskrit) is a fundamental concept in Zen Buddhism and the entire Mahayana tradition. Bodhicitta means an aspiration to awakening, often translated as the “spirit of awakening” or the “mind of awakening.” Bodhicitta or Bodaishin is an altruistic aspiration or mental attitude that seeks awakening not…
The Way of the Bodhisattva The Way of the Bodhisattva is an important concept in Zen Buddhism, arising from the Mahayana tradition. A bodhisattva is someone who aspires to enlightenment in order to help all living beings free themselves from suffering. There are several aspects to be developed in order to follow this path. The…
Origin of the Lotus Sutra The Lotus Sutra is a fundamental text in Mahayana Buddhism and is considered one of the most important scriptures in this tradition. It comprises several chapters and presents the Buddha’s teachings on topics such as Enlightenment, emptiness, and the inherent Buddha-nature within all beings. A key concept highlighted in the…
