The bodhisattva ideal, where one forgets the self and helps others, isemphasized in Mahayana Buddhism. But bodhisattvas are not just powerful symbolic figures,they are ordinary people who dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of others, to the environment, peace, to social justice. People like you and me. In this talk, Gilly honours three contemporary bodhisattvas and their journey to realisation: the
This talk centres on Dongshan’s departure from his teacher Yunyan and his awakening crossing a stream shortly after. Peter explores the meaning of “it”—the mysterious totality of transmission, Buddha nature, and the ten thousand things—shown through Dongshan’s famous poem: Just don’t seek from others, or you’ll be far estranged from self. I now go on alone; everywhere I meet it
Like branches of a single tree, Yunyan and Daowu exemplify classic dharma harmony as they meet in the temple courtyard, with Yunyan’s daily sweeping becoming the backdrop for a lively Zen encounter. In this talk, Peter explores Yunyan’s long journey to realization, the “who” behind the sweeping, and the many moons of the Way that emerge from their exchange. This
