The Waterfront

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A brief summary

Zen Coyote — Thu, 08 May 2025 10:06:47 +0000

I’ve read so many books about Buddha and Buddhism over the years but I never really felt like any one particular book (aside from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones) resonated with me. Sure, they all were, to different degrees, the proverbial fingers pointing at the moon; but I’ve felt I wasn’t reading anything that was the …

My Three Objects

Zen Coyote — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 05:39:25 +0000

What are three objects you couldn’t live without? 1. My watch. Not a smart watch but the Tag Heuer watch I’ve worn for almost 25 years. I’m not bragging; it’s just a well-designed watch that suits me, and my personality, well. 2. My Swiss Army knife. I’ve had several since I was a kid and …

Meeting Andy

Zen Coyote — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 08:20:56 +0000

Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met? Andy Warhol. I was walking down Park Avenue and there he was. He was much shorter and fragile looking than I had imagined. He was stopping people on the street and taking pictures of them with a small, cheap looking film camera. As …

Hard Times

Zen Coyote — Tue, 24 May 2022 10:46:39 +0000

Whiskers and whiskey

Zen Coyote — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 10:20:18 +0000

I used to be able to go for at least two days (three, if I didn’t have to “look presentable”) without shaving. When I was young and just starting to shave, I did so every day but my skin became crazy irritated, and anything with alcohol in it made it much worse. For the last …

And now for something completely different

Zen Coyote — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 08:02:51 +0000

…and then, by February 2018, I had been forced out of my job. It had been my only career for over 30 years but, realising no one was going to hire a middle-aged graphic designer, I embarked on a new career. Not to be cryptic, but because of what I’ve been doing since then I …

The Suffering of Busyness via Lion’s Roar

Zen Coyote — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 07:32:28 +0000

“All things are passing. When we rest in the present moment, we’re faced with this directly. This realization doesn’t have to be cause for depression. It can be a reminder of the preciousness of our life. Relaxing into the vulnerability of unknowing and facing our direct experience can be courageous. It’s an opportunity to taste …

Still here

Zen Coyote — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:23:29 +0000

The irony is that at one time I was everywhere online. Well, maybe not everywhere but in all the hot places, for a little while at least. But, wow, has the internet become a cesspool of clickbait and mass surveillance! Maybe I’m naive but I remember when people weren’t afraid to post their most inner …

The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin

Zen Coyote — Sun, 08 May 2016 07:06:33 +0000

Short film about 5 minutes. Hakuin’s self-taught, spontaneous, yet masterly and inspired painting and calligraphy, just like his teachings and writings, expressed the mind and heart of Zen for monks and lay followers alike. http://buddhismnow.com/2016/05/01/the-sound-of-one-hand-paintings-and-calligraphy-by-zen-master-hakuin/

The Buddha’s Discovery, by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Zen Coyote — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 09:42:14 +0000

Originally posted on Buddhism now:
Rapid technological advances. Increased wealth. Stress. Stable lives and careers come under the pressure of accelerating change. The twenty-first century? No, the sixth century BC—a time of destructive warfare, economic dislocation, and widespread disruption of established patterns of life, just like today. In conditions similar to ours, the Buddha discovered…