Essays from the center.
Sixty pieces of writing, applying ancient Buddhist teachings to contemporary life — written in plain English by Executive Director Luke Lin and a small circle of regular contributors.
Beyond the Cheaper Aisle: What My Daughter's Wallet Taught Me About the Reach of Compassion
Beyond the Cheaper Aisle: What My Daughter’s Wallet Taught Me About the Reach of CompassionSome years before she took her vows as a Buddhist nun, my daughter was working an ordinary teaching job. The pay was modest, just enough to cover ...
EssayThe Pilgrim's Table - A Buddhist Reflection on Taiwan's Mazu Pilgrimage
The Pilgrim’s Table: A Buddhist Reflection on Taiwan’s Mazu PilgrimageLast week, on a warm April morning, I made my way out to Huatan, a small town in Changhua County, to walk a section of the Mazu Pilgrimage. The plan had been set weeks...
EssayThe Wisdom of the Pause - Knowing When to Speak
The Wisdom of the Pause: Knowing When to SpeakHave you ever offered a friend sincere advice, truly wanting the best for them, only to receive a cold or defensive response? It hurts. We feel stung and misunderstood because our intentions ...
On FamilyMore Than Just "Blood" - Why Your Family Is Bigger Than You Think
More Than Just “Blood”: Why Your Family Is Bigger Than You ThinkWe’ve all been there. It’s a holiday or a family reunion, and you’re suddenly face-to-face with an army of uncles, aunts, and third cousins you haven’t seen in years. As a c...
On the DharmaThe Living Vessel: Why the Heart of Buddhism Beats in Traditional Characters
The Living Vessel: Why the Heart of Buddhism Beats in Traditional CharactersIn my daily life and conversations here in Changhua, I often hear the echoes of a profound lineage woven into our speech. We use words every day that carry the w...
EssayFinding the Middle Way: The Alchemy of Effort and Emptiness
Finding the Middle Way: The Alchemy of Effort and EmptinessWe are often told that diligence is a virtue, a prerequisite for success. For much of my life, I lived by this creed. I pushed myself relentlessly, driven by a desire for results...
EssayThe "Life Idiot" Dilemma - Finding Wisdom in the Mundane
The “Life Idiot” Dilemma: Finding Wisdom in the MundaneThe “Life Idiot” Dilemma: Finding Wisdom in the MundaneSince I was a child, I’ve carried a label that often felt like a shadow: “Life Idiot.” It wasn’t that I was trying to be stubbo...
EssayThe Living Pulse of Remembrance — A Qingming Reflection
The Living Pulse of Remembrance: A Qingming ReflectionEvery year as spring arrives, a particular scent comes back—the smell of damp earth, overgrown grass, and incense smoke drifting through a Taiwanese cemetery. It is the scent of Qingm...
On Our TimesMindfulness in a Chaotic World
Mindfulness in a Chaotic WorldMindfulness in a Chaotic WorldTurn on the news today, and it is hard to escape a sense of heaviness. Wars continue in multiple parts of the world — the conflict in Ukraine drags on with no clear end in sight...
EssaySeeing Their Pain - How Compassion Can Free Us from Anger
Seeing Their Pain: How Compassion Can Free Us from AngerWe all know that anger is bad for us. Research consistently shows that chronic anger and resentment take a heavy toll on both our physical and mental health — raising blood pressure...
On AIBeyond the Algorithm — Finding Timeless Wisdom in the Age of AI
Beyond the Algorithm: Finding Timeless Wisdom in the Age of AIRecently, due to my work requirements, I have been diving deep into the applications of Artificial Intelligence in education. However, amidst the excitement of innovation, I’v...
On AIThe Karma of Automation - What the Anthropic-DoD Standoff Truly Reveals About AI and War
The Karma of AutomationThe Karma of Automation: What the Anthropic-DoD Standoff Truly Reveals About AI and WarThe recent friction between the prominent AI startup Anthropic and the Department of Defense over the use of the Claude AI mode...
EssayFinding the Missing Leg of the Tripod - My Journey from Rationality to Great Compassion
Finding the Missing Leg of the Tripod: My Journey from Rationality to Great CompassionEver since I was a child, I have been someone who struggles to express emotions. I naturally tended to keep everything to myself, rarely, if ever, open...
On Our TimesNavigating the Storm - Finding Inner Peace in Taiwan's Shifting Educational Landscape
Navigating the StormNavigating the Storm: Finding Inner Peace in Taiwan’s Shifting Educational LandscapeHaving worked in the field of education for over three decades, I have witnessed a profound evolution in our schools. Some of these s...
EssayRethinking Human Classification - From Superficial Traits to Spiritual Awakening
Rethinking Human Classification: From Superficial Traits to Spiritual AwakeningHuman beings possess a high degree of intelligence, characterized by an innate drive to categorize and classify everything in the world around us. While this ...
On EthicsRethinking the Assembly Line - A Teacher's Reflections on the Buddha's Pedagogy
Rethinking the Assembly Line: A Teacher’s Reflections on the Buddha’s PedagogyWhen I stepped into my first classroom as a new teacher in 1988, I relied heavily on the theories of Western educational philosophers to guide my methods. I sp...
On FamilyThe Foundation of Potential - Why Concentration is the Greatest Gift We Can Give Our Children
The Foundation of Potential: Why Concentration is the Greatest Gift We Can Give Our ChildrenThe Foundation of PotentialA few months ago, the Australian government took a bold and necessary stand by implementing a social media ban for tho...
EssayThe Hidden Depths of Human Potential - Beyond the Psychic Veil
The Hidden Depths of Human Potential: Beyond the Psychic VeilThe Hidden Depths of Human Potential: Beyond the Psychic VeilIt is a common fascination that human beings utilize only a fraction of their true potential—with many suggesting w...
EssayThe Guardian of the Heart: Why the Fifth Precept is the Key to All Others
The Guardian of the Heart: Why the Fifth Precept is the Key to All OthersThe news out of Mexico this week is harrowing. Following a government operation that took down a major drug cartel leader, the streets erupted in retaliatory violen...
EssayThe Invisible Scales - Why Karma is the Ultimate Arbiter of Justice
The Invisible Scales: Why Karma is the Ultimate Arbiter of JusticeIn a world that often feels chaotic and unfair, our natural instinct is to cry out for justice. We feel a searing indignation when we see “good” people endure relentless h...
On Our TimesBeyond the Lines - Seeking Peace in a Divided World
Beyond the LinesBeyond the Lines: Seeking Peace in a Divided WorldLately, as I scan the international headlines, I find myself paralyzed by a single, staggering statistic: the reported casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war have climbed to...
On MeditationRestoring the Lost Art: Why Science and Wisdom Converge in Every Breath
Restoring the Lost Art: Why Science and Wisdom Converge in Every BreathI’ve personally gained so much from practicing breath meditation, yet I’ve noticed that most people remain skeptical. Unless there is rigorous scientific validation, ...
EssayBeyond the Illusion: Cultivating the Path of Purity and Sensual Liberation
Beyond the Illusion: Cultivating the Path of Purity and Sensual LiberationBeyond the IllusionIn a world that constantly celebrates the pursuit of sensual pleasure, a fundamental question often arises: Why would anyone voluntarily choose ...
EssayTransforming Blessings into Reality — The Wisdom of "Ji-Siang Ru-Yi"
Transforming Blessings into Reality: The Wisdom of “Ji-Siang Ru-Yi”In Chinese culture, a name is far more than a simple label; it is a vessel for a parent’s deepest hopes and blessings. In our language, every individual character carries...
EssayFacing the Unspoken - Breaking the Fear of Death
Facing the Unspoken: Breaking the Fear of DeathFacing the UnspokenIn my childhood, death was never an abstract concept; it possessed a concrete and terrifying shape. I can still see the silhouette of a neighbor’s coffin, bathed in the fl...
EssayTurning Loneliness into a Blessing - A Buddhist Path Through Retirement
Turning Loneliness into a Blessing: A Buddhist Path Through RetirementTurning Loneliness into a Blessing: A Buddhist Path Through RetirementFor many, the dream of retirement—finally having “nothing to do”—quickly dissolves into a reality...
On Our TimesCompassion Under Pressure - A Buddhist Perspective on Taiwan's Existential Struggle
Compassion Under PressureCompassion Under Pressure: A Buddhist Perspective on Taiwan’s Existential StruggleTaiwan has long been a disaster-prone land, primarily because its strategic location at a global crossroads has made it a constant...
On Our TimesThe Roots of Climate Crisis - Purifying the Mind to Heal the Earth
The Roots of Climate Crisis: Purifying the Mind to Heal the EarthThe Roots of Climate Crisis: Purifying the Mind to Heal the EarthThe recent announcement from the U.S. government regarding the repeal of the 2009 “Endangerment Finding” is...
EssayFrom Collector to Passerby - The Art of Unlearning Greed
From Collector to Passerby: The Art of Unlearning GreedMost people who haven’t studied the Dharma share a common instinct: the habit of hoarding. We accumulate things constantly, whether we believe we are “preparing for the future” or ar...
On EthicsThe Collective Ego - Awakening from the Dream of Anthropocentrism
The Collective Ego: Awakening from the Dream of AnthropocentrismThe Collective Ego: Awakening from the Dream of AnthropocentrismJust as individuals have a tendency toward self-centeredness, believing the world revolves around their perso...
EssayThe Infinite Library - Why One Book Isn't Enough
The Infinite Library: Why One Book Isn’t EnoughAs a lifelong book enthusiast, I have always been driven by an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Whether I was studying in my private room or carrying a volume with me wherever I went, I’ve a...
EssayThe Ultimate University: Finding My Place in the School of the Three Jewels
The Ultimate University: Finding My Place in the School of the Three JewelsAs a child, I was painfully introverted. Greeting others caused me intense anxiety, and I avoided social interaction whenever possible. Yet, beneath that quiet ex...
EssayChoosing Your Destination: Why not All Meditation is the Same
Choosing Your Destination: Why not All Meditation is the SameWhen people tell me they have started “meditating,” my first question is often: “What is your goal?”In my late twenties, I was first drawn to the Taoist tradition. My focus the...
EssayBeyond the Last Meal - What Two Decades of Fasting Taught Me About the Hunger of the Mind
Beyond the Last Meal: What Two Decades of Fasting Taught Me About the Hunger of the MindWe often underestimate how deeply we rely on food for solace. For many of us, eating is not just about nutrition; it is a psychological anchor, a sou...
EssayBeyond the Veil - How My Descent into the Paranormal Taught Me the Value of Reason
Beyond the Veil: How My Descent into the Paranormal Taught Me the Value of ReasonBeyond the VeilWith my background in education, psychology, literature, and philosophy, I have always been a natural skeptic. I was an agnostic who question...
EssayBeyond the Light Switch: Why Precepts are the Secret to Meditative Bliss
Beyond the Light Switch: Why Precepts are the Secret to Meditative BlissMany people today are aware of the benefits of meditation, yet they often find it impossible to achieve the deep state of calm and focused bliss. The problem is that...
EssayThe Doctor and the Lifeguard: Breaking the Myths of Buddhism
The Doctor and the Lifeguard: Breaking the Myths of BuddhismIn Taiwan, Buddhism often faces two major stereotypes. First, that it is “pessimistic” because it constantly talks about suffering. Second, that it is “selfish” because practiti...
EssayThe Two Darts — Breaking the Cycle of Conditioned Reactions
The Two Darts: Breaking the Cycle of Conditioned ReactionsThe Buddha posed a significant question: “What is the difference between an ordinary person and a noble disciple when they experience pain?”He clarified that both encounter the in...
On FamilyThe Pursuit of Ultimate Joy — Why My Daughter Chose the Path of a Buddhist Nun
The Pursuit of Ultimate Joy: Why My Daughter Chose the Path of a Buddhist NunWhen people ask me what my daughter does for a living, and I tell them she is a Buddhist nun, the reaction is almost always the same: a look of utter confusion....
EssayCompassion on the Plate — Why I Chose the Vegan Path
Compassion on the Plate: Why I Chose the Vegan PathChoosing a vegan lifestyle is often a deeply personal journey, yet it is one that we are frequently called upon to explain at dinner tables and social gatherings. When friends or colleag...
On AIChoosing a Future - Why Your Career Path Needs More Than a High Salary
Choosing a Future: Why Your Career Path Needs More Than a High SalaryThroughout my career in education, parents have frequently asked me the same difficult question: “Which major should my child choose for university?” It is a decision f...
EssayWhy We Can't Walk Alone: The Power of Spiritual Community
Why We Can’t Walk Alone: The Power of Spiritual CommunityWe have all been there. You decide that today is the day you will meditate for thirty minutes or study the teachings. But then, the excuses start crawling in. “I didn’t sleep well;...
EssayThe Experiment of Selflessness: My 24-Year Journey of Letting Go
The Experiment of SelflessnessThe Experiment of Selflessness: My 24-Year Journey of Letting GoI began my journey as an elementary school teacher in 1988. Later, I followed my passion for English and American Literature, but the most prof...
EssayThe Cycle of Fire - Why Revenge is a Poison, Not a Cure
The Cycle of FireThe Cycle of Fire: Why Revenge is a Poison, Not a CureLooking at the world today, it feels as if humanity has developed a collective amnesia. Despite the horrific lessons of two World Wars, we see history repeating itsel...
EssayThe Prison of the Phantom Self - How No-Self Cured My Social Anxiety
The Prison of the Phantom SelfThe Prison of the Phantom Self: How “No-Self” Cured My Social AnxietyFor a large part of my life, I lived inside a self-imposed fortress. Since childhood, I was intensely introverted—like a clam that refused...
EssayThe Honeyed Blade: How to Trade Cheap Thrills for Lasting Peace
The Honeyed BladeThe Honeyed Blade: How to Trade “Cheap Thrills” for Lasting PeaceIt is that time of year again—New Year’s Resolutions. For many of us, the top of the list is breaking a bad habit. Whether it is sugar, social media scroll...
On EthicsThe Generosity Currency - How Taiwan's Spirit of Giving Creates a Happy Society
The Generosity Currency: How Taiwan’s Spirit of Giving Creates a Happy SocietyIf you walk into a hospital in Taiwan, an elderly volunteer will likely greet you and help you find your way. If you visit a recycling center, you’ll see dozen...
EssayFree Soloing Life - The Power of Focus and the Urgency of Now
Free Soloing LifeFree Soloing Life: The Power of Focus and the Urgency of NowOn January 25, 2026, the world held its breath as Alex Honnold stood at the base of Taipei 101. Without a single rope or safety harness, he began his vertical j...
EssayThe Astronauts of the Inner Frontier - Rethinking the Productivity of a Monk
The Astronauts of the Inner Frontier: Rethinking the “Productivity” of a MonkAt first glance, the life of a Buddhist monk (bhikkhu) in the Buddha’s time seems incredibly—well—boring.Imagine a life stripped of all modern distractions: no ...
EssayBeyond the Battle of Beliefs - The Buddha's Guide to Finding Common Ground
Beyond the Battle of Beliefs: The Buddha’s Guide to Finding Common GroundWe live in a world overflowing with “Truths.” Every religion, political ideology, and self-help guru claims to have the secret key to a better life. Often, these cl...
EssayThe Shiny Car and the Dusty Mind
The Shiny Car and the Dusty MindThe Shiny Car and the Dusty Mind: A Guide to Mental MaintenanceWe live in a culture of “maintenance.” We spend hundreds of dollars detailing our cars until they gleam. We diligently take our bodies to the ...
On EthicsThe Fortress of "Me" and "Mine" - Dismantling the Ego to Save the World
Fortress of “Me” and “Mine”The Fortress of “Me” and “Mine”: Dismantling the Ego to Save the WorldWe entered the 21st century with a grand vision: a global village built on mutual aid, technological progress, and environmental healing. Ye...
EssayThe Tortoise Strategy
The Tortoise StrategyThe Tortoise Strategy: Finding Stillness in a World of Constant NoiseWe live in an era of “sensory hunger.” From the moment our eyes open, we reach for our phones to check the news, plug in our headphones to drown ou...
Pythagoras and Vegetarianism — The First Vegetarian of the Ancient World
Pythagoras: The First Vegetarian of the Ancient World and a Contemporary of the Buddha?Written by Jennafer Duerden, 3rd February 2026Most people recognize Pythagoras for his mathematical theorem describing relationships in right-angled t...
On Right LivelihoodRight Livelihood Part 1: How do We Choose How We Make a Living?
Right Livelihood Part 1: How do We Choose How We Make a Living?Lately I’ve been pondering a lot on the Buddha’s teaching about ‘Right Livelihood’. This is something that has long troubled me in my career and indeed my daily life and beca...
EssayOn the Nature of Shortages and the Needs of Others
On the Nature of Shortages and the Needs of OthersShortages are becoming a permanent fixture in our news these days. Having just arrived in my home country, the UK, to visit my family, I was shocked to be greeted by apocalyptic scenes of...
On Right LivelihoodRight Livelihood Part 3 – Business in Human Beings
Right Livelihood Part 3 – Business in Human BeingsThe Buddha told his disciples, “Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in...
On Right LivelihoodRight Livelihood Part 2 – Business in Meat
Right Livelihood Part 2 – Business in MeatThe Buddha told his disciples, “Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxic...