EPISODE · Apr 4, 2026 · 54 MIN
The Birth of The Buddha -- What's it all about?
from Endless Path Zendo | Roshi Rafe Martin
Recorded April 4, 2026.What does the birth of a Buddha really mean? What bearing does it have on our own lives? Is it just ancient history? Is it simply literal — or what? Plus, what are we to make of the rather astonishing legend that, at birth, the newborn baby Buddha raised one hand toward the heavens and pointed the other down to the earth and proclaimed “Above the Heavens, below the heavens, I Alone the Honored One”? What is this getting at? Is myth just a form of untruth? Or is it something more? How does this stunning statement relate to our own life, yours and mine, and to our own practice of Zen? Why not give a listen to this vivid teisho bringing alive The Birth of the Buddha and see how it might all connect!Books cited:"A Zen Life of Buddha" by Rafe Martin"Centuries, Poems, and Thanksgivings, Vol. 1: Introductions and Centuries." Thomas TraherneRead Roshi Rafe Martin's latest book: Finding Your Buddha Smile: Coming Home To What Zen is Really All About. Available from Amazon , Sumeru Books, and Barnes & Noble Online.Photo of Baby Buddha, Endless Path ZendoBooks by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org
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Recorded April 4, 2026. What does the birth of a Buddha really mean? What bearing does it have on our own lives? Is it just ancient history? Is it simply literal — or what? Plus, what are we to make of the rather astonishing legend that, at birth, the newborn baby Buddha raised one hand toward the heavens and pointed the other down to the earth and proclaimed “Above the Heavens, below the heavens, I Alone the Honored One”? What is this getting at? Is myth just a form of untruth? Or is it some...
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The Birth of The Buddha -- What's it all about?
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