The Zen koan on Not Knowing is a core teaching in some schools of Buddhism. In this talk, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about some of his encounters with Not Knowing and suggests ways the listener might use it for their own awakening.
Late summer through early fall is an important time for many Buddhist cultures, a time in which we offer food and drink to our ancestors, and we feed the hungry ghosts in our midst. In this episode, Sensei Morris talks about the significance of these observances, including instructions about how the listener also might make an offering to the hungry ghosts.
In this talk, Sensei Morris discusses a saying by one of his teachers, Ven. Khai Thien--"Every step of the journey is the journey." He shares thoughts on how to make use of this saying, and also how to transcend it, to experience the "no journey" that the instruction ultimately embodies.
White Sands Buddhist Center is a peaceful place. And yet, there is no peace at White Sands. In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about how to make peace by embodying peace.
You often hear that the objective of Buddhist practice is enlightenment. But there are a lot of different views of what constitutes enlightenment. In this episode, Sensei Morris talks about the idea of enlightenment in a way that can help us direct our practice and live more enlightened lives.
Most people come to Buddhism with some ideas about what it means to be "Buddha." But spend some time with Buddhists from different traditions, and you soon see that this word Buddha might change from one context to another. In this talk, Sensei Morris explains some of the different meanings can apply to this word, "Buddha" and how we might use that word to wake up ourselves.
Many newcomers to Buddhism wonder how their spiritual practice might relate to the spiritual practices of others. In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about the Buddhist king, Ashoka, and his commitment to cooperation between religions. Sensei Morris will also share a short story about a time when King Pasenadi went on a diet.
What does it mean to be free? We talk about freedom often--political freedom, freedom from oppression, and so on. But is that freedom, or is there a spiritual freedom that lies beyond that?
The first factor of the Noble Eightfold Path is Right View. But what does this mean? Do we need to "hold" certain views in order to consider ourselves Buddhist? And is it enough just to believe in the right thing? In this talk, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about Right View and the importance of practice in developing wisdom.
The Buddha often talked about the importance of having spiritual friends. In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan addresses a friendly spiritual community about how to get the most out of spiritual friendship.
You hear this saying a lot: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." But what does it mean to teach the dharma? How can you tell if the teacher who "appears" is one worth following? In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about teaching the dharma and seeking a teacher.
In this episode, which includes a talk given on Father's Day 2022 at White Sands Buddhist Center, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about how difficult relationships can become a catalyst for spiritual growth.
Soon after his awakening, the Buddha spoke to 1,000 ascetic fire-worshippers, and explained to them how to stop the cycle of mental actions that lead to stress and pain.
The first two verses of one of the best known books in Buddhism, The Dhammapada, state that everything we experience is determined by the mind. But what does this mean? And how can we put it to use to increase our wellbeing and improve our experience of life? In this talk, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan unpacks those two verses and talks about faith, practice and the mind.
In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about a parable from the Lotus Sutra in which the Buddha explains that the practice is the ultimate way, the way to Buddhahood. He then shares a discussion of an earlier discourse, in which the Buddha explains the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Buddha was once asked, "What is the highest blessing?" His answer became a comprehensive guide to living well on the Buddhist path.
In the modern world, we have access to countless religious and otherwise spiritual traditions and teachers. Some of these teachings can sound pretty good. But how can we tell if a teaching is going to take us down the path we want to travel? In this episode, Sensei Morris shares a conversation the Buddha had with his own stepmother about that topic.
In this episode, Sensei Morris wraps up his discussion of essential elements of Buddhist practice with a talk about skillful means and Buddha Nature.
In this episode, Sensei Morris continues the series of essential elements of Buddhist practice with a discussion of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
In this episode, Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan talks about the second turning of the Wheel of Dharma, with the teachings on emptiness and the way of the bodhisattva.