26Sep/10

The Invisible Elephant in the Room: Death

09/26/2010birth death awakening enlightenment wake up dream packaging greatest problem humanity issuesTCN

What is humanity’s greatest problem? It’s not global warming, not nuclear weapons, not environmental degradation, not even war. We die. 150,000 people die daily, 56 million people die annually, a number greater than the population of Canada. But we package everything in our society as if death does not exist,…

29Aug/10

Without Compassion, What Hope?

08/29/2010Buddhism Buddhist teachings scripture teacher advice patience text sacred learning Chinese English, charter for compassion, forgiveness, justice, kindness, social justiceTCN

Race relations, immigration, Ground Zero and many other issues are sparking debates across a wide spectrum of politicos and religious. What does an apolitical Buddhist nun wish to offer? I used to have strong opinions about various issues related to what I perceive to be discrimination and injustice. Why? I…

07Aug/10

Save the Date – The Alchemy of Our Spiritual Leadership: Women Redefining Power

08/07/2010The Alchemy of Our Spiritual Leadership:TCN

Calling all women of spirit and faith!  ~ Save the date ~ The Alchemy of Our Spiritual Leadership: Women Redefining Power April 28 – May 1, 2011 Hotel Sofitel San Francisco Bay Opening Keynote Speaker:   Sister Joan Chittister. Voted “the most inspirational woman alive” in a recent survey! This is NOT…

30Jul/10

The Religion of Homonyms, Not Harmony

07/30/2010chinese culture homonyms language value east west buddhism truth happiness peaceTCN

If we were in Hong Kong, you would not want to see me first thing in the morning. Why? Because the Chinese do not want to see a bald head first thing in the morning! A bald head is partly a homonym for emptiness (空), and as usual, the Chinese…

26Jul/10

Women, Spirit and Leadership: A Collaborative Exploration

07/26/2010women faith spirit, women faith spirit sacred feminine divine leadership spiritual religious interreligious interfaith interspiritual wisdom traditions mentor power authority self modelauthority, divine, interfaith, interreligious, interspiritual, leadership, mentor, model, power, religious, sacred feminine, self, spiritual, traditions, wisdom, women faith spiritTCN

Videos of women of spirit and faith in conversation.

14Jun/10

Stepping into A New Realm

06/14/2010women faith spirit sacred feminine divine leadership spiritual religious interreligious interfaith interspiritual wisdom traditions mentor power authority self modelauthority, interfaith, interreligious, interspiritual, mentor, model, power, self, traditions, wisdom, women faith spirit sacred feminine divine leadership spiritual religiousTCN

High School was a nightmare for me. I shiver at the thought of cliques shouting out their daily popularity index for their favorite cheerleader, back-biting and finger-pointing too often played out in the bathrooms for some reason, slick rumor mills and imitated moves meant to seduce in those pre-pubescent bodies.…

13Jun/10

A Chinese Mahayana Nun’s Many False Names

06/13/2010Buddhism Buddhist teachings scripture teacher advice patience text sacred learning Chinese English, honorific, names, nun, titleTCN

A pointed finger or stutters sometimes replaces my name. Why? English speakers have trouble pronouncing it, and which part? Is it just Guo? Is it pronounced Go, Gwo? Cheen – is it Chin or like Cheetos with an “n”? And with or without the Reverend as a title? Or is…

07Jun/10

A Prescription for Happiness: A Twelve Step Program

06/07/201012 step program, buddhism, Buddhism Buddhist teachings scripture teacher advice patience text sacred learning Chinese English, compassion, happiness, life, monastic, nun, only if, religiousTCN

If only I were slimmer. . .If only I had the money to . . .If only so-and-so were my partner . . .If only these people knew who I will be someday . . .If only I were born into a different family . . . We fantasize about…

23May/10

Women of Faith and Spirit: Exploratory Conversation 2

05/23/2010conversation, faith, interfaith, leadership, paradigm, women faith spiritTCN

What is the special contribution of women to spiritual leadership? An exploration with 25 women on the leadership style, paradigm and next steps for women of faith and spirit.…

16May/10

A Buddhist Offering: Anticipations for Science

05/16/2010science buddhism compassion cosmology neuroplasticity quantum physicsTCN

Inspired by the Wisdom 2.0 Conference and the recent research on neuroplasticity, I offer some musings that scientists may consider for further research. I am not a scientist and certainly would skew the data were I to do research given my likely preferential intent with the outcome; fortunately, I am…