Author Archives: EricKVanHorn

This Just In!

Posted on May 30, 2017 by EricKVanHorn

I know someone – in fact, I know quite a few people – who are very upset with the political situation in the United States right now. And that is understandable. I don’t know that I can put that to … Continue reading →

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Dress Rehearsal for Rebirth

Posted on March 22, 2017 by EricKVanHorn

I recently went to a short retreat with Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The subject of the retreat was “awakening.” At the retreat, Ṭhānissaro described the death and rebirth process. Ṭhānissaro was almost electrocuted when he was 35 years old, so he had a … Continue reading →

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Scholarship and Practice

Posted on February 16, 2017 by EricKVanHorn

I have written about this before, but it has come up again, and I think some of the points bear repeating. It has to do with scholarship vs practice in the Buddhist world. I recently started to read an interview … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhist practice, Teachings of the Buddha | 1 Comment

Love Trumps Hate

Posted on November 13, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

It never ceases to amaze me what a difficult and challenging path the Buddha’s way is. Our habits are so ingrained to look outward. But following the Buddha’s path is like being in a room full of mirrors. Even the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhist ethics, Buddhist practice, Teachings of the Buddha | 2 Comments

More Books

Posted on October 24, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

Books 6 & 7 in the Little Books on Buddhism series are now available on the Books tab. Book 6 is on rebirth. It has four sections. One is on whether the Buddha taught rebirth, the second one is on … Continue reading →

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Learned Helplessness

Posted on October 3, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

I just got an email from one of my very dearest Dharma sisters. I met her in India and her friendship has been one of the great blessings of my life. I know that I have said this before and … Continue reading →

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Ego

Posted on October 3, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

I recently heard someone use the word “ego” at a meditation group. I had not heard that in a while and it got me to thinking. It is unfortunate that the word has come into common use in Western Buddhism. … Continue reading →

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The More Things Change… and Dogen

Posted on September 20, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

I have spent the better part of the last 20 years of my Buddhist life immersed in the Pali Canon. We are so blessed to have good translations of the Pali Canon in English. I always encourage people to at … Continue reading →

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The Buddha’s Teachings on Rebirth

Posted on September 20, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

I have noted a number of times that I have been working on a book on rebirth. The eBook versions of that are now available on the Books tab. It is “The Little Book of Buddhist Rebirth.” Every one of … Continue reading →

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Humility

Posted on September 11, 2016 by EricKVanHorn

I am not sure that Buddhism will ever again see the kind of glory that it saw in the heyday of the Silk Road. And unfortunately some of the most spectacular and humbling sites from that era have been destroyed. … Continue reading →

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