Advice on Mind Watching
Just awaken the mind and be alert. Turn your attention from the outside and radiate within. Let the awakening and …
Dharma
Study texts and teachings from the Lambda Zen Temple - exploring the wisdom of Zen masters, Buddhist teachings, and spiritual insights.
Welcome to our collection of dharma teachings and study texts. Here you will find wisdom from Zen masters, Buddhist teachings, and spiritual insights to support your practice and understanding.
46
Study Texts
200
Minutes total reading time
Attainment
A dialogue between Attainment and Gateway. Gateway, abruptly standing on his feet, asks Master Attainment, saying: "What …
Bodhidharma on Lineage
A student asked Bodhidharma: "The layperson has a wife and children, so he can not yet cut out sexual desires. How can …
Bodhisattva Vows
Bodhisattva Vows: Sentient beings are numberless: I vow to liberate them all. Delusions are inexhaustible: I vow to end …
Body & Mind
Body and Mind: Discipline means, 'everthing stays in order'; this means, cultivate the body and mind eagerly and …
Building Statues
Foolish people today think that erecting statues is of great virtue and merit. They spend a lot of money on materials. …
Doctrinal & Patriarchal Teachings
Doctrinal Teachings: They have been talking about cultivating serenity and wisdom to clearly see the Self-Nature. Now, …
Faith in Mind – Shin Jin Mei
Read the complete Shin Jin Mei by Sosan Zenji - the classic Zen text on Faith in Mind. Discover the Perfect Way beyond …
Firelotus
Explore the profound Zen teaching of Firelotus - a koan about finding refuge when the whole world burns and the master's …
Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is often cited as the best known and most popular scripture in zen. The sutra describes the experience …
Incense
Also, the burning of incense does not mean the ordinary form of incense, but the formless-doing or righteous dharma.
Jesus Christ
Just as in the Sutra, this "I" cannot mean the physical body, such as Jesus Christ carried for thirty years; rather it …
Koan
Yunmens Koan. A student asked, “When this student didn’t raise a thought, is there still a sin or not?” The Master said, …
Love
Then, what is true love? If the body is illusory, then what is not illusory? Should it be mind? Or spirit? Since mind is …
Meal Chants
The meal prayers are recited before and after mealtime at the Zen Temple.
Milk of Truth
Explore Bodhidharma's teaching on the Milk of Truth - a profound dialogue about Buddha's enlightenment, three immaculate …
Monastic Zen Life
Explore 120 profound questions from a 12th-century Chinese collection that guide monastic Zen life - covering …
Nicholas von Flüe
Saint Nicholas of Flüe was a Swiss hermit and ascetic who is the patron saint of Switzerland. He is sometimes invoked as …
Noble Eightfold Path
Learn the Noble Eightfold Path - Buddhism's fundamental guide to ethical living and spiritual awakening through right …
Original Face
Profound Dharma has never been created nor annihilated. Often have we transformed our bodies; sometimes born in heaven. …
Proper Nourishment
Discover the five types of spiritual nourishment in Buddhism - dharma enthusiasm, meditative joy, mindful remembrance, …
Returning to the Mind
Therefore you should know well that all the sages in the past time cultivated virtue and merit by talking of nothing but …
Scatter Flowers
Scattering the flowers also means the same thing. By spreading the virtuous flowers of the righteous dharma, one helps …
Tao
To operate the Tao six times a day implies to operate the Buddha-Tao in the six sense roots all the time. By operating …
The Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel of Thomas. These are the hidden words that the living Jesus spoke, and that Didymos (the twin) Judas Thomas …
The Image of Buddha
For every indigent-being casting the statue of Buddha, is the motivated action to attain Buddha-Tao. They symbolically …
The Living Word: Isn`t this special?
Discover Zen Master Pohwa Sunim's teaching on the Living Word - the lost core message of all great sages that transcends …
True Prayer
Explore the deeper meaning of true prayer in Zen Buddhism - being in accordance with Truth (Dharma). Learn about …
Unborn Undying
Discover the Zen teaching on Unborn Undying Dharma - a profound dialogue about the nature of truth beyond birth and …
What is Bathing?
Bodhidharma's teaching on true bathing: the seven dharmas for spiritual purification. A profound dialogue about …
What is Chanting?
Bodhidharma's teaching on true chanting: righteous thought vs. vocal recitation. Learn the difference between …
What is Church?
Discover Bodhidharma's profound teaching on what church truly means in Buddhism - not a physical building, but the …
What is Fasting?
Fasting means eliminating the eating of dark and sinful karma; the confused and ignorant people do not understand this. …
What is lighting the Candle?
The everlasting candle as awakened mind: Buddhist teaching on spiritual illumination. Learn about the true meaning of …
What is Zen?
What is Zen? Wisdom is directly pointing to the human mind, seeing true nature, becoming enlightened, and saving all …
Zen Master Hakuin – A chat on a boat in the evening!
Discover Zen Master Hakuin's profound teachings on inner concentration and meditation. Learn the ancient healing method …
Zen Master Huang Po
Explore Zen Master Huang Po's teaching on the One Spirit - the unborn, indestructible mind that transcends all …
Zen Master Hye Am
Study Korean Zen Master Hye Am's teachings on meditation, Hwa-du practice, and enlightenment. Includes dharma talks, …
Zen Master Jinul Direct Talk on True Mind
Explore Zen Master Jinul's Direct Talk on True Mind - Korean Buddhist patriarch's profound dialogue on self-nature, …
Zen Master Joshu
Discover the wisdom of Zen Master Joshu (778-897), the legendary Chinese Ch'an master whose 'lips emitted light' through …
Zen Master Kyung Ho
Study Zen Master Kyung Ho's essential teachings on mind examination, Buddhist practice, and the path to awakening - …
Zen Master Mann Gong
Explore Zen Master Mann Gong's famous Diamond Sutra koan dialogue - a Korean Zen patriarch's profound teaching on the …
Zen Master Myo Vong – I and Thou
Delve into Zen Master Myo Vong's profound dharma talk on 'I and Thou' - exploring the root of all dualistic thinking and …
Zen Master Pohwa Sunim - World Zen Fellowship
Discover Zen Master Pohwa Sunim, Korean Patriarch and founder of World Zen Fellowship. Learn about the Living Word …
Zen Spirit and encouragement
Find inspiration in this powerful Zen encouragement text - a call to dedicated practice, breaking through doubt, and …
Zen Warnings
Study the essential Zen Warnings from the Mumonkan - crucial guidance on avoiding spiritual pitfalls and false practices …