Tag Archives: solitude

Authentic Inner Freedom

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Vajragoni

As the final embers of 2023 gently fade away, disappearing into the vast expanse of the new year’s dawn, and the icy grip of winter tightens its hold on the northern realms, a golden opportunity presents itself. It is a chance to step away from the chaotic extravagance that often accompanies the holiday season and instead embrace the serene tranquility that Winter Stillness bestows upon us. In this moment, solitude beckons, inviting us to explore its depths and discover its true essence. read more

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Acquiescence

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Vajragoni

Meister Eckhart, the renowned Rhineland Mystic, had a unique way of expressing the opening of the dark principle. He once said, “Seek God, so as never to find him.” This statement is profound and full of dharma-delight. It suggests that if one is trying to capture the essence of the Absolute Unknowable, which is often referred to as God, then it will constantly elude their efforts. read more

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A Tale of Two Solitaries

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Vajragoni

4:5 (35) The Nāga Elephant (Nāga Sutta)

Thus has it been made known. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Resort. During this interval the Blessed-One was living in over-crowded conditions, with monks and nuns, both men and women lay followers, by royal ministers and sectarians and their followers. Living under such harried circumstances, the Dharma Lord spoke thusly to himself: “Here I am being hemmed-in from all sides, by people of sundry walks of life, feeling great discomfit and very ill-at-ease. Suppose I were to live alone and apart from this overwhelming crowd?” read more

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Ah, what bliss!

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Vajragoni

2:10 (20) Bhaddiya (Bhaddiya Sutta)

Thus has it been made known. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling near Anupiyā in the Mango Grove. There was a story circulating that the venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā’s son, would frequent a wooded-area near the base of a tree or an empty-place and exclaim to himself, “Ah, what bliss! What bliss!” read more

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Why Suffer?

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Vajragoni

Abandoning punishment for all living beings,
not hurting even a single one of them,
one should not wish for a son, not to mention a companion!
one should live alone, like the horn of a rhinoceros. read more

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The Khaggavisāṇa Sutta: A Rhinoceros Horn

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Vajragoni

Dhivan Thomas Jones has written an excellent article concerning the sutta entitled, Like the Rhinoceros, or Like Its Horn? The Problem of Khaggavisāṇa Revisited. read more

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Nada and Silence in John of the Cross

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Vajragoni

We have extensively covered the rich apothatic spirituality of John of the Cross in a prior series. Our focus now is on the significance of this Nadayana and its twin sister, Silence. John’s negative path is a cradle of nothingness in that no-thing can withstand the awesome splendor of the Unborn Absolute: read more

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Muccalinda

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Vajragoni

Muccalinda Sutta (Trans: Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu)

I have heard that on one occasion, the Blessed One was staying at Uruvelā on the bank of the Nerañjarā River at the root of the Muccalinda tree, newly
awakened. And on that occasion he sat for seven days in one session, sensitive to the bliss of release. read more

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Contemplative Sojourn

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Vajragoni

Greetings from the blogger here at Unborn Mind Zen

It’s that annual-junction wherein my time apart from active blogging begins. Since my last contemplative sojourn a lot of new material has been blogged: the Diamond, Heart, Platform, and the Surangama Sutras have been covered. Series on the Zen Masters Huang Po and Bankei have been offered, along with the beginning of a perpetual-series on the Wisdom from the Masters. Teachings from Tozen have been added as well. This last blogging-season began last August with a singular series entitled, “The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead”, exploring in-depth the nature of the six “Bardo Realms” that also encapsulated a breakdown of the Five Wisdom Tathāgatas, or the Five Dhyani Buddhas; this provided a foundation for the Noble Ascent through the Ten Tathatic-stages of Mind Development, designed to better help navigate the final Bardo-stages of the Dharmatā thus avoiding the latter stages of Re-becoming or Rebirth. read more

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The Aloneness of the Long-Distance Mystic

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Vajragoni

From time to time one reads the half-hearted and veiled recalcitrant attacks on mystics by those who are still trapped within their pseudo-intellectualism. They claim that mystics are somehow alien to scientific methodologies, like some form of isolated dharma-freaks. In reality, they are far from the truth. Sisirkumar Ghose has written eloquently in his book, “Mystics as a Force for Change”, that such unwarranted attacks are far off the mark: read more

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