Photo Album: Vienna

This is a quick partial upload from Vienna before I dash off to the next airplane. I haven't even had time to write captions yet.

Looking at these photos makes me realize it's very difficult to capture a place adequately in photos, and it's really not possible when you have such short time for visiting. Still, great fun. Your comments invited.

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Video Repost: "Big Pregunta"

From the dharma talk in Mallorca, ZMBH talks about having a "Big Pregunta," a Big Question.

"Buddhism begins with pregunta. Practicing Buddhism--great pregunta. Enlightenment means become comfortable with pregunta."

With these words, ZMBH begins a story that may be familiar to some of his students, but told this time with a bit more emotion than we are used to.

Photo Album: ZMBH in Berlin

Berlin has been a funny stop for me. The plan called for ZMBH to lead a 3-day YMJJ, and originally I intended to sit with the sangha as well. But the technical snafus of the blog demanded my attention, so I elected not to sit the retreat, and decided to work through the weekend instead. So while I did manage to get some pictures of the center (one of the nicest we have seen), most of my photos are of Berlin itself. Just a couple of days is hardly enough to do justice to this (or any) city, but it is fascinating, and I plan to be back.

These shots may seem disjointed, even a little odd, but my thinking with travel photography is to take picture others do not--details, unusual items and views--and leave the "beauty" shots to the professionals who make postcards. A quick Google search will turn up dozens of beautiful pictures of the Brandenburg Gate, so why should an amateur take an inferior version of the same picture? (OK, I did take one of the gate, but you get the idea.)

So here is my Berlin album. I had fun. I hope you do too.

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Photo Album: Warsaw & Krakow

We didn't get to spend enough time in Warsaw. That's my conclusion after looking through the photos. Why the heck didn't I take more? Anyway, the ones we have are really good, so enjoy. Also, Krakow--well, we knew going in that Krakow is very photogenic. Unlike Warsaw, which was nearly leveled in WWII, Krakow was mostly preserved. The photos here don't even begin to do either city justice, but they will give you a small taste.

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HOORAY! VIDEO IS WORKING!

So far, so good! Please continue to report any video playback problems, and I'll do my best to fix them.

Buddha's Four Important Things: Excerpt From A Dharma Talk in Mallorca

Buddha said there are four things in life that are most important. A clip from Zen Master Bon Haeng's public Dharma talk in Palma de Mallorca.

Photo Album: Majorca

Is it "Majorca?" Or "Mallorca?"

Depends on who you ask. I have used both spellings in this blog, and I don't want to take sides. However you spell it, this is an old place. I mean OLD. Traces of habitation go back to 6,000 BCE.  The people here today are intensely proud of their island, and with good reason: it is stunningly beautiful. You have to really look if you want to find a view that is not appealing.

The sangha in Mallorca (there's the other spelling) is hospitable and eager to share the beauty of this place. The photos don't really capture the truth of it, but you'll get a hint.

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