Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

It Is All In The Name

Have you ever noticed that “Hans Solo” is the lone wolf, he is independent and likes to go “solo”? There is also “Darth Vader”, the character of the “Dark Father”. “Darth” is a variation of “Dark” and “Vader” is Dutch for “Father”. And of course, the name “Luke Skywalker” is obvious and needs no explanation. “Luke Skywalker” is a “Sky Walker”. Artists work very hard to ensure that their message is received by the viewer. This also occurs with Buddhist sutras. We can see this throughout the Larger Sutra. Nothing is hidden. It is all there in plain sight for the reader to experience.

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

A Shin Candle?

In popular culture, the term “Zen” has lost almost all meaning. Sadly, it is no longer a noun that refers to a Japanese school of Buddhism. Instead, it is now a noun that connotes anything that is “cool” or “relaxing” or “minimalist”. It is an aesthetic type of design element. It also refers to a commodified form of self-help through mindfulness. As a lay person I understand this but as a Buddhist minister it still frustrates me.

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

Beware of the Second Arrow

We often hear that the Buddha taught an end to suffering. But this is not 100% accurate. In fact, it isn’t even half right. It is only a third right because there are three types of suffering.

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Teresa Shimogawa Teresa Shimogawa

Arigato in a 7-Eleven

The expression of gratitude accompanies a bow that is not too fast, not too slow— something that feels deliberate, kind, respectful, and steeped in history. From the slouchy country where I come from, watching the straightness in their backs, the degree of the bow, and the consistency of their enthusiasm displayed from even a 7-Eleven worker, impressed me beyond all expectations.

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

Who is the Other in Other-Power?

I have always had an issue with the term Other-Power. It is a trigger word for me and many newcomers to Buddhism. Other-Power sounds suspiciously close to Higher-Power. In America, this is why Other-Power is often confused with the Christian concept of God. I still struggle to remember that Other-Power is not an external force or Being but rather a way of thinking. It is a new way of understanding and appreciating one’s life in a totally different way.

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

All You Need Is …

“Compassion” is usually thought of as being nice to another person. But in Buddhism it means being of one heart. Here the niceness of it is not emphasized. Often times we may have to say or do what needs to be said or done in the moment to be truly compassionate. It may not be “nice” but it is what is necessary to help another person. In this sense, as Buddhists, Compassion Is All You Need.

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Andi Dean Andi Dean

Journeying Through The Buddhist Course Pathway

What order should I take the courses in the Buddhist Course Pathway? Can I take two or three courses at a time? Share with us how you’re journeying through the Buddhist Course Pathway and get answers to these questions and more.

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

Swimming Beneath the Waves

My son then looked at me, smiled and said “Dad you don’t understand. Some days the surface of the ocean is safe and calm while on others it is rough and dangerous. But the ocean is always calm – every day. This is where the lifeguard swims. We rely on the depth of the ocean not on the surface of the water.”

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

Insight into the Past, Present and Future

This is my favorite Western example for the power of insight and it can be found in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It is about the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. He is the evil person. He has no family or friends. He lives in his own self-contained and self-created world of suffering. Then one night, after eating some bad porridge, he is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas. The first is from the past, the second is from the present and the third is from the future.

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Teresa Shimogawa Teresa Shimogawa

The Permanence of Change

There are the things that are going to happen in life. We can never maintain a fixed identity. Although we tend to anchor our identities to experiences, relationships, or to other things that we think define who we are, it inevitably leads to our suffering. This is because experiences are fleeting, relationships are not eternal, and things come and go.

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Rev. Jon Turner Rev. Jon Turner

Another Buddha on Bodhi Day

When considering Buddhism, we tend to envision its practice. For many, this would be sitting meditation on a cushion, facing a blank white wall for long periods of time. In his new book Pure Land: History, Tradition, and Practice, Charles B. Jones explains another Buddhist approach known as “The Story.” This is the foundation of Pure Land Buddhism.

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Andi Dean Andi Dean

¡Sí! Hai! - Spanish & Japanese Subtitles

We are excited to announce Spanish and Japanese subtitles are available on all our videos!

¡Estamos emocionados de anunciar subtítulos en español!

日本語字幕を発表できることを嬉しく思います

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Teresa Shimogawa Teresa Shimogawa

Thank You Corn

On Thanksgiving, as Buddhists, I think we should reflect on corn. Take a moment to pause and remember its origins. We should be grateful for the Wampanoag, who still live in New England today, for being an important part of the American story.

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Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra

Searching For My Mind (Part 1)

When it comes to the mind, is there really a mind that I can say is “my mind?” Mind has no color or form. Mind is instantaneous, passing from moments to moments like the flame of a candle or the flowing water of rivers. Can we really assert that they are our minds and bodies? Can we capture the flux of mind as if it were static?

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