<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Agama International Zen Practice Center]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cultivating Calm, Connection, and Wisdom]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/practice-library</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 17:22:55 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.agamazen.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[What Should We Trust?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Kālāma teaching in the Madhyama Āgama on doubt, discernment, and finding a safe place to stand.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/what-should-we-trust</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f8a1fc6774f9d9f8d37f0b</guid><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 14:05:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_5e497bd61b554f84b19e5476d82ec958~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_941,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Chinese Āgamas: Forgotten Discourses from Early Buddhism]]></title><description><![CDATA[How the Buddha’s early teachings were recited, transmitted across Buddhist communities, translated into Chinese, and rediscovered through modern comparative research.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/the-chinese-%C4%81gamas-forgotten-discourses-from-early-buddhism</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f7843e6d919e5ce86aff8f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 17:41:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_fa277124ad354e4f80b6f6dbe5b96551~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_941,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Do We Meditate?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why do we meditate? Not to escape life, but to see how deeply our habits shape it.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/why-do-we-meditate</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f52c1390b4365cb86134cd</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 23:22:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_7b962dddf115421ab5f08681927c52f7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_941,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Father’s Lesson on Truth: The Buddha’s Advice to Rāhula]]></title><description><![CDATA[A clear and relatable retelling of the Buddha’s advice to Rāhula on truthfulness, reflection, and mindful living.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/a-father-s-lesson-on-truth-the-buddha-s-advice-to-r%C4%81hula</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f25732b22b9270c63a7cb3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:46:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_4512853996c442e491db6b3b627754f0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Begin Meditation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Learn how to begin meditation with a simple mindfulness of breathing practice rooted in the Āgamas, Satipaṭṭhāna, and Master Dianwu’s practical guidance.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/how-to-begin-meditation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f28fe0bc2ce3253fd32eff</guid><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:25:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_434afc02c33f43aa92ae87f5ecde159f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_900,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exploring the Teachings of Agama International: Agama Meditation Practices]]></title><description><![CDATA[In a world that often feels rushed and noisy, finding a path to inner peace and clarity can seem challenging. I have found that the teachings of Agama International offer a gentle, steady way to cultivate calm and wisdom. Their approach to meditation and spiritual growth is rooted in early Buddhist traditions, yet it feels accessible and relevant today. This post explores the core of their teachings, focusing especially on agama meditation practices and how they can support anyone seeking a...]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/exploring-the-teachings-of-agama-international-agama-meditation-practices</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebfef281e17196bd25eadb</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:15:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_11e173a583004041b868f5d0fd995e4d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_864,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Huiyan  Mona</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Buddhist View on Fate and Free Will: A Teaching from the Madhyama Āgama ]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the Discourse on [Tenets to Be] Transcended, the Buddha challenges three common ways of thinking: that everything is determined by past karma, controlled by a divine power, or happens without cause. He shows that all three views undermine personal responsibility and the possibility of practice.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/transcending-extreme-views-a-teaching-from-the-madhyama-%C4%81gama-%E8%B6%85%E8%B6%8A%E6%9E%81%E7%AB%AF%EF%BC%9A%E4%BD%9B%E9%99%80%E5%A6%82%E4%BD%95%E7%9C%8B%E5%BE%85%E5%AE%BF%E5%91%BD%E8%AE%BA%E3%80%81%E7%A5%9E%E5%88%9B%E8%AE%BA%E4%B8%8E%E9%9A%8F%E6%9C%BA%E8%AE%BA</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea5b27b17cf497ceb44d57</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:05:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_d378bf14dfb3410f9e3442b84f6932a4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_900,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mindfulness in Early Buddhism: More Than Present-Moment Awareness]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if mindfulness is more than being present? In the early Buddhist teachings, mindfulness is not merely calm awareness of the moment. It is a disciplined practice of recollection, clear observation, and right direction. The Āgamas and Nikāyas preserve mindfulness not as a trend or technique, but as training that helps reduce greed, anger, and confusion, and leads toward genuine freedom.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/mindfulness-in-early-buddhism-more-than-present-moment-awareness</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e2c2950c8d230c9e8e170c</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:50:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_778d373aded442aaa696423761f43245~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekend Group Sitting – Returning to Fundamentals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Members, In the busyness of our daily lives, we often overlook the most basic and profound tool we possess: the breath. This weekend, we invite you to pause and return to the core of Zen practice. Our upcoming group sitting will focus on Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati). Guided by the recorded teachings of Master Dianwu, we will explore how to use the breath as an anchor to stabilize the mind and work through the common challenges of restlessness and dullness.  Schedule Saturday...]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/weekend-group-sitting-returning-to-fundamentals</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dd017a8946a7ddf46e6bad</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:01:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_af959d659f1246e68b89c7f3e59043cc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_912,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Agama Sutras: How the Buddha’s Voice Reached Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Agama Sutras are among the earliest surviving records of the Buddha’s teaching life. More than ancient scripture, they preserve living encounters, practical guidance, and a trustworthy path that still speaks directly to modern practice.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/the-agama-sutras-how-the-buddha-s-voice-reached-us</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d7f69dfc7a52acb90aa3e0</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:07:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_4c88985189d948c282d629479733c776~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_754,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekend Group Sitting – Master Dianwu’s Teachings on Meditation Challenges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Members, We invite you to join our upcoming Weekend Group Sitting , featuring a guided session based on Master Dianwu’s teachings on common challenges in meditation . In this session, we will study and practice with recorded teachings from Master Dianwu, focusing on how to recognize and work skillfully with difficulties such as restlessness, dullness, and instability in meditation.  Schedule Saturday (English） Sunday (Chinese) This session builds on our recent article: Understanding...]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/weekend-group-sitting-master-dianwu-s-teachings-on-meditation-challenges</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ceae9e40e74dbec4fea7c9</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_dddd995b3203422a86fa15fed624b927~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Understanding Common Challenges in Meditation: Teachings from Master Dianwu Session One]]></title><description><![CDATA[Meditation often brings more than calm. It can reveal restlessness, dullness, pain, emotional burdens, and attachment to pleasant states. Drawing on Master Dianwu’s teachings, this article explores common challenges in practice and offers clear guidance on how to meet them with steadiness, right method, and insight.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/understanding-common-challenges-in-meditation-teachings-from-master-dianwu-session-one</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cdb922f7044e6cf7a6f43c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:53:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_7acc87172936418681b4cff7c6442067~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_900,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Our New Website Is Now Live]]></title><description><![CDATA[We’re happy to share that our new website is now live — a warm and welcoming space to explore our teachings, programs, and practice resources.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/our-new-website-is-now-live</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c5c8f560f0b8e1134ed89d</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:04:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_d39f0f38634545edaf1df4a174b7e1b9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When the Mind Becomes Still, the Brain Rewrites Itself | Benefits of Meditation]]></title><description><![CDATA[How meditation reshapes stress, emotion, and attention through the meeting of Buddhist wisdom and modern science.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/when-the-mind-becomes-still-the-brain-rewrites-itself</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c0583118a3837b55badc6c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:05:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_57cd54f24e174e70981d80547a5e8510~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_816,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beginner’s Orientation]]></title><description><![CDATA[A welcoming first step into meditation, Dharma, and the Agama community.]]></description><link>https://www.agamazen.org/post/beginner-s-orientation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c0543a6e2d8139249055bd</guid><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:55:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/569b3f_342482227ed343d196b35141653f764e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_808,h_454,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agama International</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>