THE BUDDHA BLOG | Michael Haggiag

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Jul 23, 2023
Michael Haggiag

A teenager's life begins to change in ways he could never have imagined after encountering the teachings of the Buddha. Michael Haggiag makes Zen practice and Buddhism easy to grasp in this coming of age story.

1. Call me Dylan

THE BUDDHA BLOG
A hyperactive teenager strikes an unlikely friendship with a Japanese gardener who seems to know more than he lets on.

2. Buddha the Pointer

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Even a 15 year old with ADHD can understand the teachings of the Buddha when Jizo explains it!

3. Prince Siddhartha Gautama

THE BUDDHA BLOG
How did prince Guatama become the Buddha?

4. Outside the Palace

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Prince Gautama, encountering old age and sickness for the first time, finds his world beginning to crumble.

5. The Third Meeting

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Prince Gautama had never thought about old age or sickness before and he's not handling it all that well. How will he take this last revelation?

6. Leaving Home

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Having faced the reality of life for the first time, prince Gautama now faces a difficult moral dilemma. 

7. Pondering

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Jizo reveals something about his mysterious past...

8. Jizo’s Own Story

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Jizo faces life and death in his first real test as a Zen monk

9. The Restaurant

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Dylan has an important question for Jizo.

10. The Five Disciples

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Five friends search for prince Gautama after he flees the palace. 

11. King Bimbisara

THE BUDDHA BLOG
King Bimbisara makes a very tempting offer that will surely test the Buddha's resolve.

12. Learning to bow

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Jizo teaches our hyperactive protagonist the secret to finding inner stillness.

13. The Ascetic

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Jizo explains the Middle Way to Dylan.

14. Solo

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A 13 year old girl gives Gautama the final lesson that will lead him to full Buddhahood.

15. Shame

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Dylan has a terrifying experience on the meditation cushion.

16. On the terrace

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Dylan finds the courage to return to the meditation cushion so Jizo gives him some further instructions on meditation.

17. Enlightenment

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Siddhartha faces his final test under the Bodhi tree.

18. The Meditation Hall

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Dylan has his first experience of a real Zen-do and it's not what he expected!

19. Daily Life Practice

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Jizo's instructions for daily life practice leave Dylan less than thrilled.

20. The Buddha’s Path

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Will Dylan understand what Jizo is trying to teach him?

21. The Morning Star

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Why is the Buddha’s birthday the same day as his death and enlightenment? Jizo has some interesting ideas about why this could be.

22. Mara Has One More Go

THE BUDDHA BLOG
The Buddha has reached enlightenment but he has has no idea how he’s going to explain it to anyone.

23. Dr. Buddha

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Rather than create a new philosophy, the Buddha decides to offer up a cure for old age, sickness and death in one simple formulation.

24. Happiness?

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Is Dylan feeling compassion or desire?

25. The Buddha Looks for His Friends

THE BUDDHA BLOG
Having become the Buddha, the newly awakened ascetic makes his first attempt to teach what he has discovered.

26. Sangha, Sutras & Skateboarders

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Dylan is introduced to the Buddhist sutras for the first time, but they also come with a warning.

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Further reading

Chanouyu by Maria V.A. Eckhart | with commentary by Michael Haggiag

Poet's corner
Poet Maria Eckhart captures the essence of doing, without doing

What Floats Your Vote?

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What does Buddhism have to say about the world of political power and money?

Life on Dry Land: A dialogue with Master Torie

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When training for something it's sensible to keep track of our progression. When it comes to Zen training however, this doesn't quite seem to work, in fact it can become quite a serious obstacle.

Extract | The Four Noble Truths by Ajahn Sumedho | Part III

Book Extract
Ajahn Sumedho explains how to let go when suffering arises through the contemplation of the Four Noble Truths.