We've reviewed the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, two core principles of Buddhism. From these two ideas there's a whole universe of interpretations, additions, and expansions. Every time Buddhism is introduced to a new culture, it tends to adapt towards the specific pressures that exist at that time. Tibetan Buddhism is different … Continue reading The Vow
Category: Self-Reflection
The Path
I find it's a good idea whenever you're setting out on a new endeavor to take stock of where you're going, why you're going there and what you want to do on the way. The new year is a new endeavor of sorts, so before diving into any major goals I want to pause for … Continue reading The Path
The Truths
Happy New Year to all of you! It is a time of fresh starts and renewal for me. I love viewing the new year as a fresh piece of paper, a time to construct the next 12 months with focused intentionality. As part of that, I've found it's useful to revisit the foundations of my … Continue reading The Truths
Constant Change
In the relative chaos of the past two years, my job has been mercifully stable. I work for a Silicon Valley tech company, and I honestly feel lucky to be here. The company was founded with a mission I care about. The people I work with are smart and diverse and awesome, and I can … Continue reading Constant Change
Bagel? Googly Eye?
Kurt Vonnegut was the first writer to make me really feel nihilism where I lived. Cat's Cradle is an early novel of his most famous for the form of its world's destroyer -- ice-nine, a form of water that freezes at room temperature. But what makes it linger in my mind after reading it 20 … Continue reading Bagel? Googly Eye?
The Balancing Dance
I've always wanted to be a more conscientious person -- the kind of rabbit who sends "thank you" cards when someone's done him a good turn; or surprises his friends, neighbors, and regular acquaintances with a thoughtful gift on a birthday or holiday; someone who remembers the names of coworkers' children or pets, and asks … Continue reading The Balancing Dance
Block by Block
It's hard to talk about why I stopped writing. Not because I don't understand it, but because there's this fear that writing it down and posting it up for everyone to see will reveal some fundamental weakness on my part. When you live with the brain that I do, you learn not to trust your … Continue reading Block by Block
Life, the Universe, and Everything
I turned 42 years old nine days ago. The old folk wisdom says that this will be the beginning of my sixth cycle of brand new cells, as the body completely replaces itself roughly every seven years. It's a fun idea, and a handy way of looking back at different stages of your life over … Continue reading Life, the Universe, and Everything
Zen Check 2022: Samadhi
I like to set my intention through this first week of 2022 by reviewing my understanding of the Noble Eightfold Path, being a Zen Buddhist and all. On Monday I went over the first of the Threefold Division, sila (or ethics). That blog post was unforgivably dry reading it over — sorry about that. I’m … Continue reading Zen Check 2022: Samadhi
Zen Check 2022: Sila
Happy New Year, everyone! I thought I would start the blog this year by doing a gut check on a few fundamentals. I identify as a Zen Buddhist, meaning that I adhere to the principles of both Zen AND Buddhism. Especially in the United States, Zen has become its own discipline — a way of … Continue reading Zen Check 2022: Sila
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 