Christopher

The Voice of the Buddha: Finding Dharma in Everything

Dharma Talk by Chris Kakuyo Leibow Today I want to explore a profound line from the Tan Butsu Ge, a poem found in the preamble of the ancient Buddhist scripture known as the Larger Sutra of Boundless Life. This particular verse speaks of how “the voice of the Buddha’s enlightenment reverberates through everything”—a concept that…

THIS VERY BODY IS THE BODY OF THE BUDDHA

DHARMA GRETCHEN SEIYO SENSEI AUG 18 2021 There’s a Buddhist concept that our teachers are all around us. A little while ago I received a Dharma lesson from one of my brothers, although he didn’t know it and is very Christian. He lives in Michigan and we had been catching up on the phone. It…

In Praise of Failure

Dharma Talk – Christopher Kakuyo Leibow I want to start with a personal story. Let me paint you a picture. I’m about 43. I sit on the floor in a small room in a stranger’s house with my back against a wall. It’s late. I am watching reruns of Perry Mason on a 12-inch black…

THE WAY OF THE FOOLISH BEING

DHARMA TALK BY CHRISTOPHER KAKUYO SENSEI The Path of the Foolish Being Preface It is interesting how wandering through a bookstore on an unremarkable Wednesday can change your life forever. On one of those Wednesdays, while I was walking the aisles of Ken Sander’s bookstore looking for something to read, I serendipitously found what I…

Thank you, Jesus!

Dharma Glimpse by Gretchen Seiyo Sensei Given the title of this Dharma Glimpse, you may think I’ve gone completely off the rails. But, stay with me. I’m going to tell you about something people do that I really don’t like, and something I also don’t like about myself. Here’s what gripes me; have you ever…

Haiku as Awareness Practice.

I would like to talk about Kobayashi Issa and Haiku, well technically senryu as practice. Haiku’s focus us usually nature and senryu is like haiku but the focus is primarily on human nature and emotion. For today, when I say haiku I mean both haiku and senryu. So who is this Issa fellow. He…

Kwan Yin Goddess of Compassion

Here is something I wrote for the “blessing of the hands” event that is held each year at the University of Utah Hospital. Traditions from all over the valley come together to give spiritual support for all of the hospital caretakers, from janitorial staff, to surgeons. The blessing of the hands is returning after a…

A Bejeweled Life

Dharma Talk – Aesha Drozdowski Last week, my employer initiated a webinar series inviting all colleagues to participate. The topics will vary but will center around how we can support one another as we recover from several waves of the pandemic. The first topic was “Caring for Each Other: Managing Moral Distress”. It provided an…

Dharma Glimpse: Learning Patience

Dharma Glimpse – Sharon Aaron The Sangha has been part of my life for about the last 8 years. The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha have been front and center! I love my practice and the opportunity I have had to learn, to grow, and to serve. That said I was very surprised and…

Dharma Glimpse: ” I can see clearly now, the rain is gone “

DHARMA GIMPLSE BY JOSEPH CALDIERO Here is the Dharma glimpse; Shinran Shonin said, “Although I too am within Amida’s grasp passions obstruct my eyes and I cannot see him; nevertheless, great compassion is untiring and illumines me always. “ quoted in Shinjin, 17 In light of this statement I’ll tell you a story to help…