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Lotus Sutra 9: Treasure
At the beginning of this chapter, the one that promises treasure, Purna is excited that he’s hearing such beautiful teachings. The Buddha says to the sangha: Now this Purna in the past diligently practiced the way under a thousand million
Lotus Sutra 8: Facing the Face
Breathing as Listening Can you listen to The Lotus Sutra through your breath? Using the medium of your breath, letting it float into you on currents of cool air, instead of using the analytical part of yourself, the inner autopsy
Lotus Sutra 7: The Phantom City
Time There are different layers of time. The atomic clock in Boulder measures time through its decay. Time is passing. Is time passing? Is time passing? Is time passing? The body has its own time. We’re meeting in the evening
Lotus Sutra 6: Suffering and Time
Dharma Sequins Mahayana Buddhism is rococo Buddhism, extravagant and spectacular. If you photocopied the Lotus Sutra it would come out of the machine looking like gold sequins. Arhats are the perfected beings of early Buddhism, sternly ascetic practitioners of the
Lotus Sutra 5: Burning
Last Defence at Troubled Reactors: 50 Japanese Workers by Keith Bradsher and Hioko Tabuchi (New York Times) A small crew of technicians, braving radiation and fire, became the only people remaining at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on Tuesday
Lotus Sutra 4: Scenes
Rule Rebellion When the Buddha died, the sangha built several stupas (shrines). Different parts of the community gathered around different shrines. One of the largest gatherings, of what might be named the maha, the majority of the sangha, had split
Lotus Sutra 3: Or Perhaps a Fingernail
Within 50 years of the Buddha’s death, there were 18-25 schools of Buddhism, all offering different emphases, explanations, practices. What is the keynote of Mahayana Buddhism? We do not wake up alone, we wake up with others. We put aside
Mindfulness Of The Body
Michael talks on the Kayagatasati Sutta exploring meditation on the body, how to work with the breath, and meditations on the dissolution of the body at death. Recorded in Madison, Wisconsin.
MU
Michael Stone gives his final talk at Centre of Gravity on the famous Zen Koan MU. Michael begins with discussing meditation on the breath and then goes deeply into seeing how practice is about being unconditional with yourself. Recorded at
Lotus Sutra 2: The Welcome Mat
Japanese Novel Let me half remember that Japanese novel I like to leave under my pillow. I don’t actually read it at all, instead, at night, I invite it to dream me. It begins with a couple on a train,
Lotus Sutra 1: Deep Background
Bow At the end of a sit we bow, and we’re not bowing to the teacher, to this room, or the Buddha. We’re bowing to this moment. Everything that is, is in this moment. Bowing is a beautiful practice. Your
Kushala 5
Life before and after Death. Michael Stone talks about deep memory, rebirth, and how when we have problems it’s usually because we have the wrong map.
About the Community Library
Michael was a great archivist and the Community Library was—and continues to be—a labour of love. Everything in the Community Library is available for free. Anyone, anywhere can have instant access to material that will help them deepen their practice and contribute to a culture of compassion and collaboration.
Libraries are places where we gather alone together. They are known to be places of refuge for seekers, as well as those who are marginalized. This library is no different. It helps us nourish our beautiful, international community without walls. Now, it will also help keep Michael’s legacy alive.