Sunyananda

At a recent interfaith event celebrating the opening of a new Catholic stewarded retreat center.

Most Venerable Sunyananda giving some comments on Ullambana during an observance in 2018.

Buddhist awakening or enlightenment doesn't negate suffering and dissatisfaction- certainly experience that could be classified as suffering and/or dissatisfaction still arises in the course of human life. Rather, in Buddhism one who is awake sees through the veil into the essential nature of phenomena, and thus to the intrinsic unity of suffering and elation, of dissatisfaction and fulfillment, of dukkha and nirvana. Experience that would otherwise simply be regarded as painful, is transmuted through the lens of dharma to be authentically regarded and engaged as transparent, inter-arising, and inseparable from the wider, indivisible fabric of reality. In this, nothing is too great or difficult to bear, and all is laden with worth and meaning.

- Sunyananda

For those of you interested, I've created a new blog to house my musings on contemplative Christianity entitled "Contemplative Crossings". Please follow if you're so inclined!