Siddhartha Shakyamuni, originally known by this name and later called the Noble One, the Buddha, lived over 2,500 years ago, yet his teachings continue to resonate within our own realizations today. He offered a direct path to understanding how we create our own suffering, and a way to move from delusion to liberation, from what is not to what IS. I see the Buddha as the original pragmatic psychotherapist, dedicated to uncovering the Truth—what we know as the Dharma. This truth wasn’t invented or discovered solely by the Buddha; it reflects our original nature, the fully lived present moment in its raw, unadorned form.
My personal journey with Buddhism began in my teenage years when I read Suzuki Roshi’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. This book was a pivotal introduction to Buddha Nature—our original state of being. From there, I embarked on a 40-year journey into the Buddhadharma, immersing myself in the teachings and holding in deep reverence what the Buddha achieved through his passionate, persistent, and unwavering efforts to look directly into the source of our true nature.
In recent years, I’ve read several books about the Buddha’s life, particularly focusing on his life as a meditator. I am left in awe and often moved to tears by his relentless pursuit of the cessation of suffering. Each day, I walk alongside the Buddha in my heart, constantly reminded to stay close to the suchness of life—vivid, expansive, luminous, and loving. I aspire to embody these qualities for the benefit of all beings.
