Blog - James Gritz https://jamesgritz.com/blog/ buy prints & Books Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:01:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Tso Pema and Guru Rinpoche https://jamesgritz.com/tso-pema-and-guru-rinpoche/ https://jamesgritz.com/tso-pema-and-guru-rinpoche/#respond Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:40:36 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=15811 I have made the pilgrimage to Tso Pema, the Lotus Lake of Guru Rinpoche, several times. Tso Pema, as the Tibetans call it, is a small sacred site known as Rewalsar to Indians, located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It is a major pilgrimage hub for Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs, […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/tso-pema-and-guru-rinpoche/feed/ 0 Zen and the Art of Street Photography https://jamesgritz.com/zen-and-the-art-of-street-photography/ https://jamesgritz.com/zen-and-the-art-of-street-photography/#respond Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:31:02 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=10127 The Dance Between Zen and Street Photography Street photography is about the fleeting composition, the split-second capture, but most of all, it is about an art unchained—free from rules where only the artistic expression of the photographer counts. It’s a battlefield where artists go beyond their limits to seize magic moments that will never come back. From my view street photography is more than just capturing […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/zen-and-the-art-of-street-photography/feed/ 0 Gummy Bears https://jamesgritz.com/gummy-bears/ https://jamesgritz.com/gummy-bears/#respond Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:47:43 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=9560 I found myself walking into the kitchen to get a couple of gummy bears from a package in the cupboard. One of my indulgences is buying a package of gummy bears from time to time. As I approached the package, I said to myself that they have a lot of sugar, so I’ll only get […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/gummy-bears/feed/ 0 Buddhist Pilgrimage https://jamesgritz.com/pilgrimage/ https://jamesgritz.com/pilgrimage/#respond Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:51:36 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=641 The Buddha’s life is not just a personal journey, but one that has reverberated through centuries, inspiring countless individuals across cultures and traditions. His teachings continue to offer profound insights into the nature of existence, helping all who seek peace and understanding. For many, the pilgrimage to the places where the Buddha’s life unfolded serves […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/pilgrimage/feed/ 0 Cool Grove and The Mahakala Caves https://jamesgritz.com/hello-world/ https://jamesgritz.com/hello-world/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:07:00 +0000 http://jamesgritz.com/?p=1 The Cool Grove Charnel Ground: Sitavana Northeast of Bodh Gaya lies Sitavana, the Cool Grove—a site woven into the fabric of Indian Buddhism and the tantric tradition. Revered as one of the eight great charnel grounds, Sitavana has long been a place where spiritual seekers confront impermanence and the realities of life and death. On […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/hello-world/feed/ 2 Why is the guru so important in Vajrayana Buddhism? https://jamesgritz.com/why-is-the-guru-so-important-in-vajrayana-buddhism/ https://jamesgritz.com/why-is-the-guru-so-important-in-vajrayana-buddhism/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:44:43 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=175 Over the years I have watched many people with great desire to approach the teacher held back by timidity and fear. Not only new students but also well-seasoned Dharma practitioners. I see these disciples refrain from approaching the teacher, either from discomfort or out of what I consider a false respect or devotion. Many see […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/why-is-the-guru-so-important-in-vajrayana-buddhism/feed/ 0 SHORT MOMENTS, MANY TIMES https://jamesgritz.com/short-moments-many-times/ https://jamesgritz.com/short-moments-many-times/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:42:44 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=171 Perhaps the most profound advice I have received from my teachers that has been passed down through the Dzogchen lineage is “short moments, many times.” It is difficult to sustain rigpa, ordinary mind, the natural state, or whatever you would like to call it. It often comes out of nowhere, when you drop your practice, […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/short-moments-many-times/feed/ 0 BRINGING THE LUNG DOWN https://jamesgritz.com/bringing-the-lung-down/ https://jamesgritz.com/bringing-the-lung-down/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:39:31 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=167 There is a particular teaching Tsoknyi Rinpoche has given on a number of occasions that I would like to share. I have found this practice especially helpful during difficult times. I have received these teachings both privately and in public. In a Renunciation Retreat given in Crestone, Colorado, Rinpoche described some of the signs that […]

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]]> https://jamesgritz.com/bringing-the-lung-down/feed/ 0 Footsteps of Buddha https://jamesgritz.com/footsteps-of-buddha/ https://jamesgritz.com/footsteps-of-buddha/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:38:08 +0000 https://jamesgritz.com/?p=162 The Buddha’s life is not just a personal journey, but one that has reverberated through centuries, inspiring countless individuals across cultures and traditions. His teachings continue to offer profound insights into the nature of existence, helping all who seek peace and understanding. For many, the pilgrimage to the places where the Buddha’s life unfolded serves […]

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