There are several symbols associated with Zen Buddhism that can be helpful in inspiring and reminding practitioners of their spiritual goals. These symbols, from the Enso circle to Buddha statues, have a rich history and…
Visiting Zen Buddhist temples is a unique and enlightening experience that provides a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage. As you might know, my wife is Japanese, and we go to Japan every…
There are numerous Buddhist symbols, and each is unique and carry a different teaching, a different message. Buddhism is a major world religion that originated in ancient India and is based on the teachings of…
Eiheiji was build in 1244 and is the main temples of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. It is located deep in the mountains in Fukui Prefecture, about 16 km from Fukui City. The temple…
Soto is the leading school of Zen Buddhism. It was initially founded in China as the Caodong lineage of the Chan school of Buddhism and was later imported to Japan in the thirteenth century by…
The Linji lineage was first transmitted to Japan by Myosan Eisai. He initially studied at the Tendai headquarters on Mount Hiei to the north of Kyoto, but in 1168 he embarked on a journey to…
People don’t really know who Buddha was, and contrary to what most people in the Western world think, he was neither a God nor a legend. He was a real man that lived 2500 years…
A long time ago in India, the Buddha, resolute in solving the problem of human suffering, realized Enlightenment while practicing Zen meditation under a tree. The Buddha realized intuitively that even if we possess everything…
Sojiji Temple is the second head temple of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism and is one of the biggest and most famous Buddhist temples in Japan. Originally, Sojiji was a Shingon Buddhist temple and was built…