by Abby Mushin Terris | Oct 18, 2020
The three poisons of greed, hostility and ignorance are everywhere evident. Do you find this to be true for you? Ironically, the distress we feel in the body and heart at the situation in the world is also a sign of our ability to recognize our real situation and the...
by Abby Mushin Terris | Oct 10, 2020
Don’t speak ill of the Three Treasures of buddha, dharma, and sangha. This precept, which refers to all actions of body, speech and mind, is often overlooked. Thich Nhat Hanh puts it this way, “Refrain from actions that cause the community to break.” Framing it so...
by Abby Mushin Terris | Oct 5, 2020
Having the name Sangha Jewel Zen Center gives us a continuous koan to live into and work with. We take refuge in Sangha. The sangha of all beings is a shining jewel with infinite facets, asking us continually to look into the conditions in the world that most...
by Abby Mushin Terris | Sep 27, 2020
At this time of profound upheaval, the entire globe is stressed at every level and fragile rules of civil discourse and behavior are being upended. On the national level the major concern of our leaders seems to be holding and wielding power. This intention brings...
by Abby Mushin Terris | Sep 20, 2020
I saw something that reminded me of the power of thought while driving down Circle Boulevard with my particulate mask on. There was a team of construction workers, unmasked, resurfacing the road. Fumes were rising from the asphalt heater, adding to the density of the...
by Abby Mushin Terris | Sep 4, 2020
This month begins our preparations for the October precept ceremony. Some of you will be ”taking” the precepts. Some will be ”receiving” the precepts. Do we take them or do we receive them? Though these two words share a similar meaning, they each have a different...
