Since 2012, I have created the following websites and blogsites. In looking back, each website and blogsite reflects where I have been in my spiritual journey at the time. However, the underlying theme has always remained a heartfelt interest in spirituality.
Websites
The purpose of this website is to share information about spirituality that is instructive and helpful. The theme is spirituality for life – a practical spirituality to enhance life’s journey and to help fulfil one’s divine destiny.
The intent of the website is to bear in mind an inclusive view of spirituality, recognizing that the divine Spirit works beyond any one faith tradition. While Christian spirituality is emphasized, the wisdom of other religious traditions is also respected.
This website deals with prayer of the heart or meditation. It is covered from a mainly Christian perspective – and yet, since meditation is a universal spiritual practice, the website may be of interest to all.
In sum, the website is about a journey into the realm of the heart – the abode of the Divine within. Three aspects of this journey are silence, stillness, and simplicity. When pondered, may the reflections on this website lead you to the silence and stillness of your own heart – and in so doing, encounter the Life,Light, and Love within.
This website seeks to present Buddhist spirituality as timeless principles of living taught by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. From the reality of experience, these teachings remain universally relevant. An underlying theme of the website is how to become free from all forms of suffering.
As a Western lay Buddhist with goodwill toward all beings in all worlds, I have created this website in my love for the Dharma and a vision of a way of life inspired by the universal Four Noble Truths. All articles and charts may be freely downloaded (either in PDF format or as a Microsoft Word document), as well as photos (personally taken, unless otherwise credited).
This website presents spirituality which is Buddhist and offers a proven path to awakening.
Awakening, or enlightenment, is a deep inner realization, a profound new perception of life, an overturning of former values and goals. It means no longer drifting through life, living for sense pleasures, or yielding to unsatisfactory social norms. An authentic reality is now seen; illusion and reality are separated; and a genuine end of suffering and lasting happiness beckon us.
It involves having a new vision for life – it is something direct and immediate, a spiritual experience in a sense (although it can be expressed intellectually). It is a vision of the nature of existence.
The Buddhist path of spirituality is a way to awakening that offers a Path to attain wisdom and compassion, as well as freedom from suffering. Understanding will come directly from one’s own practice. Needed is a willingness to explore the Path and a rigorous testing of it against one’s own experience. Confidence and conviction in the validity of the Path will then emerge — rather than from a simple belief in the teachings. (Initially, one will not have had direct, personal evidence. However, one sees that these teachings have been of value to others — and so one can cautiously proceed on the likelihood that they will be of benefit to oneself as well.)
These words from Lama Thubten Yeshe link mind with spirituality: “I hope that you understand what the word ‘spiritual’ really means. It means to search for, to investigate, the true nature of the mind. There’s nothing spiritual outside. My rosary isn’t spiritual; my robes aren’t spiritual. Spiritual means the mind, and spiritual people are those who seek its nature.” [Yeshe, Lama Thubten, Becoming Your Own Therapist (Boston: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, 2003), p. 89.]
(6) buddhist-spirituality.info
This website explores spirituality from a Buddhist perspective. The principles are faithful to the Buddhist tradition. They hold much relevance and meaning for our present world. The term spirituality ties in with the idea that in Buddhism the mind is a vital factor in our existence.
An underlying theme for the website the reality of suffering. Images on the website from life today are intended to help convey a spirituality that is also contemporary.
This website is about karma – a law of life. It is the timeless and universal law of cause and effect, expressed in the words, “what we sow, we reap”. (Kamma is the Pali term; karma is the Sanskrit term.) Buddhist understanding of karma has been drawn on since this tradition has extensively written on the subject.
The purpose of this site is (1) to present a clear description of karma, as much as is possible, and (2) to show how awareness of karma can immeasurably benefit our lives. Nevertheless, karma remains a deep and profound principle of life, and not all its workings can be precisely explained.
This website seeks to present an overview of Buddhism, which is a vast and complex religious and philosophical tradition. Its history covers over 2,500 years.
The website takes a general survey approach, presents fundamental ideas and practices, and in part reflects common ground among the different traditions of Buddhism.
The intent was for this website to be progressively built and developed (however, progress has been lacking). The website seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of Buddhist meditation.
“Learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life. For it is only through meditation that you can undertake the journey to discover your true nature, and so find the stability and confidence you will need to live, and die, well. Meditation is the road to enlightenment.” (Sogyal Rinpoche, Glimpse after Glimpse: Daily Reflections on Living and Dying, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.)
(10) brahmaviharas.net
The Four Immeasurables—Loving-kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic [Appreciative] Joy, and Equanimity—are the sublime expressions of love. They are also known as the Four Limitless Ones, The Four Sublime States, and the Brahmaviharas or Divine Abodes. These four qualities of true love are said to be sublime, lofty, noble, and most excellent for they are the right and ideal way of relating with all living beings.
These sublime qualities of love provide the answer to all situations we may encounter in our lives. They are the great removers of tension, the great peace-makers in social conflict, and the great healers of wounds suffered in the struggle of existence. These noble qualities of love level social barriers, build harmonious communities, awaken the slumbering generosity within us, and revive the joy and hope long abandoned. (SourcePoint Global Outreach. The Heart of Dharma Collection. Mount Shasta, CA: Naljor Prison Dharma Service, n.d.)
(11) end-of-life-spirituality.org
This website is about facing the end of life. Four critical issues are:
(1) the reality (and fear) of death,
(2) reasons for fearing death,
(3) letting go and facing death, and
(4) preparing for death.
The aspirations for the website are: (1) May the content of the website help toward enabling us to die well ourselves, as well as better helping others at the end of their lives. (2) May we learn how to find hope in death instead of only tragedy.
Unfortunately today, many are taught little about death and dying as they grow up and during their adult lives. The website draws on the Buddhist tradition for its rich practical insights into death and dying. The Four Noble Truths form a framework for the site as follows:
(1) Suffering exists: The reality (and fear) of death can be tormenting.
(2) Origin of suffering: There are reasons for our fear of death.
(3) Cessation of suffering: We can gently let go and die in peace.
(4) Path to ending the fear of death: There are steps in preparing for the end of life and death.
Our personal responsibility, therefore, is fourfold:
(1) To understand the reality (and fear) of death.
(2) To abandon the causes for the fear of death.
(3) To achieve letting go peacefully.
(4) To take the steps in preparing for the end of life.
In some ways, there is no greater gift of love you can give than to help a person die well, including yourself. May this website, created from a heartfelt desire to serve, prove to be a useful source of information for all those seeking help in facing the end of their life.
(12) dying-and-death-reflections.com
This website was begun to be created during the website author’s 70th birthday weekend (November 1-4, 2019) as a gift to others who are also nearing closer to the end of their life. His heart wish is that this website serve all others in preparing for their inevitable end of life.
The website features reflections about growing older. All backgrounds and faith traditions are honored. Coming from a Christian background, the author then had the opportunity to study Buddhism, and more recently has been exploring the spiritual richness of Hinduism (Vedanta).
(13) lamrimpath.org
The purpose of this website is to present information on the Lamrim (Tibetan) — the stages of the Buddhist path to awakening or enlightenment.
The Lamrim teachings organize the Buddha’s teachings from a basic level to an advanced level in a gradual sequence of instruction and learning. It was Atisha (982-1054 AD), the Indian Buddhist Master, who wrote Lamp for the Path that was the original Lamrim text that served as the basis for subsequent Lamrim instructions.
(14) the-six-bardos.org
The purpose of this website is to present an overview of the six bardos, as presented in Tibetan Buddhism.
“It has been said that the whole of the Buddha’s doctrine could be summarized in the teaching on the six bardos. (The Buddhadharma is vast and profound, and the many approaches of the various vehicles and cycles of teaching comprise an inconceivable wealth of instruction. … )
What, therefore, is a bardo? A bardo is a state that is “neither here nor there”; by definition it is something that comes “in between,” an intermediate state. The six bardos are: (1) the natural bardo of the present life; (2) the hallucinatory bardo of dreaming; (3) the bardo of meditative absorption; (4) the painful bardo of dying; (5) the luminous bardo of ultimate reality; and (6) the karmic bardo of becoming.” (Adapted from Dudjom Rinpoche. Counsels from My Heart [Kindle Locations 692-698]. Shambhala Publications. Kindle Edition.)
(15) http://ngondro-practices.org/
This website presents an explanation of the foundation or preliminary practices in Tibetan Buddhism. There are two parts: (1) the outer or general foundation practices; and (2) the inner or special foundation practices.
For those who may wish to go beyond reading the information and descriptions given, and to incorporate the Ngondro into their daily lives as part of their spiritual practice, it is highly recommended that this be done through the guidance of a Buddhist teacher.
If such a teacher is not readily available in one’s area, there are Buddhist instructors whose programs are available on-line and who provide on-going support for one’s practice.
Blogsites
(1) insightfromlife.wordpress.com
From early on in my life, I have tended both to reflect on life and to search for greater meaning. As a result, I have tried to keep diaries, but was more successful in jotting down insights in bound notebooks and on three-by-five inch index cards. Finally, it’s dawning on me that I need to share the insights that I have faithfully recorded in notebooks and filed in shoeboxes!
The insights that I impart on the blog site have come from the reality of living life – including the learning of painful lessons along the way. As a result, I have come to appreciate the Buddha’s words: “I teach two things, O disciples: suffering and release from suffering” (Samyutta-Nikaya, xxii, 86). May the following words in turn be a theme for the blog site: release from suffering. And, may the heartfelt insights shared be of real benefit to those who visit this blog site and bring a measure of joy and happiness.
(2) buddhistspiritualityblog.wordpress.com
I have created this blog site after spending a lifetime pursuing a spiritual path – and have lived and worked in Australia, Europe (England, Czech Republic), the United States, Asia (South Korea) and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia). Additionally, I have completed both undergraduate and graduate level studies in spirituality (as well as in education).
Now, as a result, I would like to share what I have found helpful in life from a practical and experiential level. I believe there is a timeless spirituality that works to bring peace, harmony, and happiness for all people. May the insights shared on this blog site serve and enrich the lives of all.
(3) end-of-life-reflections.blogspot.com
This blog was begun to be created during my 70th birthday weekend (November 1-4, 2019) as a gift to others who are also nearing closer to the end of their life. The blog features reflections about growing older. All faith traditions (and none) are honored. May this blog serve all in preparation for their inevitable end of life. While dying is certain, its timing is uncertain.
In some ways, I think that the 70th birthday is indeed more of a special milestone than other birthdays. First of all, I am finding that I have a far more sober view of life. There simply is not that much time left in my life, compared to the 70 years that have passed. Secondly, I am finding that I no longer have the same energy levels that I had in my forties and fifties, as well as during the early years of my sixties. Therefore, I must now truly focus on what is important in life.
A Closing Note
Note long ago, I turned 70 years of age. In some ways, I think that the 70th birthday is indeed more of a special milestone than other birthdays. First of all, I am finding that I have a far more sober view of life. There simply is not that much time left in my life, compared to the 70 years that have passed. Secondly, I am finding that I no longer have the same energy levels that I had in my forties and fifties, as well as during the early years of my sixties. Therefore, I must now truly focus on what is important in life.
For a PDF copy of the above list of websites, please click here.
