Lotus and Rose

Links

Lotus and Rose Links

All things that appear in this world are transient. If you view all things that appear as never having appeared, then you will realize your true self.

--The Diamond Sutra

The links on this page are grouped in general categories simply as a convenience. There is no special significance to their order.

Question authority!

Regardless of where you read it or who says it.

Link Categories

You can click on a category below to go to that grouping, or simply scroll down the page to see them all.

Atheist, Pantheist, Humanist, & Skeptical

  • Church of Reality -- Internet-based, open-source religion based on available evidence.
  • ExChristian -- The latest polls indicate a gradually shrinking number of people identifying themselves as religious. This site attempts to explain why and offers support to those who leave the fold.
  • Believing the Unbelievable -- A one-hour video speech by Sam Harris delivered at the Aspen Ideas Festival. (A hi-speed Internet connection is recommended for video viewing.)
  • Richard Dawkins -- Writings, video, and audio from the atheist perspective, which seeks truth from reason and substantiated evidence.
  • World Pantheist Movement -- Reverence for the universe.
  • Humanistic Texts -- Large online collection of freely available writings from many authors around the world from varying perspectives yet with the common thread a humanistic approach. Note the links to various writers near the top of the page. A helpful index to the available writings organized both by time and alphabetically by author is provided.
  • The American Humanist Association -- Rationalism inspired by art and compassion.
  • Freedom From Religion Foundation -- American organization of freethinkers whose goal is to maintain the principle of separation of religion and government.
  • Skeptic Friends Network -- A little skepticism never hurt anyone and tends to keep you honest.
  • CSICOP On-line Scientifically Investigating Paranormal and Fringe Science Claims -- Serious skepticism.
  • The Secular Web -- Looking at things from the naturalist point of view, including an extensive online library, a blog, and links to audio/video files.
  • Positive Atheism -- A godless alternative -- religion without deity.
  • NoBeliefs -- Freethinkers thinking "religionless" thoughts.

Inter-spirituality & Non-duality

  • 3rd Millennium Gateway -- Great cross-section of information.
  • elephant journal -- An unusually cool online magazine, full of articles, videos, and other stuff on different aspects of the mindful life.
  • Mr. Deity -- Yeah, he's got his own Web site and even a show on YouTube!
  • Advaita.org.uk -- One of the most thorough presentations of the non-dual perspective maintained by Dennis Waite. Includes many articles, a dictionary of Sanskrit terminology, Eastern and Western viewpoints, basic questions asked and answered, and many connections to additional Web-based assistance.
  • Falling Awake -- A video about Joe Miller, who could be described as a home spun San Francisco sage. He drew many people to himself without trying, offering his insights freely. Additional audio and video is available at the SF Theosophical Society's "Miller Archive".
  • BigView -- Philosophy, religion, mythology from Greek to Buddhist. Includes a discussion forum. Form and emptiness got you stumped? Get unstumped!
  • The Peaceful Warrior's Way -- Site devoted to Dan Millman's discoveries as an athlete in both the physical and spiritual arenas.
  • The Sattva Teachings -- Look here, look there, look everywhere. What do you see?
  • Nonduality Salon -- Over 1500 pages of material from a wide variety of practice but generally from the non-dual perspective.
  • The Advaita Show -- Several blog-like pages of links to a series of 27 podcasts, featuring Sailor Bob Adamson, that you can listen to using Windows Media Player or download for playback on your iPod or equivalent device.
  • Non-conceptual Self-Knowing and Sailor Bob Adamson -- Bob Adamson ended a lifelong search and discusses non-duality. The second site includes online audio and video clips.
  • Self-Discovery Portal -- Various resources for investigating who I am from both the Eastern and Western angles.
  • Poet Seers -- Collection of poetry from a wide variety of sources. Includes biographical information and selected poems.
  • The Natural State -- Reflections on non-duality from John Wheeler.
  • Here and Now You Are That -- Site devoted to non-dual approach. Includes large collection of audio files.
  • Amigo -- Uncomplicated Simplicity -- What appears as complexity is actually "unicity."
  • Advaita Fellowship -- Collection of varying ways of looking at the same thing. Includes audio files within the "Sage Pointers" category.
  • Clarity by Nathan Gill -- One man's discovery of one. Be sure to click on the "Read" menu option which contains Gill's story and his attempts to describe the indescribable.
  • The Headless Way -- A place to investigate your Self by pointing the finger at You! Presents the Self-discovery method of inquiry promoted by the philosopher, Douglas E. Harding. The site is available in several languages.
  • Religion Facts -- Are you curious about a particular religion without a lot of propaganda? Then here's a great resource.
  • Overview of World Religions -- Helpful, expandable flow charts of various religious traditions. When you click on a chart category, additional breakdowns are often available, many including brief descriptions of teachings, history, adherents, and other interesting details. Developed by St. Martin's College Department of Philosophy & Religion in the United Kingdom.
  • Hermitary -- Here is a site devoted to solitary spiritual growth, apart from the crowd.
  • Zoo Fence -- Thoughtful comments on life and living simplified.
  • My Out Spirit -- Gay spirituality blog.
  • Religion Online -- A well-organized connection of links to thousands of articles, chapters, and even full on-line books largely by recognized scholarly teachers on topics including the the history of religion, social issues, the Bible, theologians and various ways of looking at the world.
  • Sea of Faith -- A radical approach to spiritual life emphasizing openness in what appears to be this post-modern, post-Christian era.
  • The New Seminary -- An interfaith theological seminary that embraces diversity, not rejecting one's heritage but finding insight from other paths.
  • Nicholas Roerich Museum -- The museum, the paintings, and the fascinating story of Nicholas Roerich himself.
  • The Harmony Project -- Stories of interfaith harmony and oneness.
  • United Religions Initiative -- Aims to promote interfaith understanding with the stated goal of achieving cooperation and ending religiously based violence. 
  • CrossCurrents -- Excellent source of a wide variety of spiritual resources including world religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and biblical literature.
  • Internet Sacred Text Archive -- Extensive collection of writings from a very wide variety of spiritual paths.
  • When I Awoke -- A selection of seven awakening stories from various non-dual traditions.
  • The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society -- Encouraging awareness, empathy and compassion based upon a variety of traditions.
  • Transcendentalists -- Complete books and essays of Henry David Thoreau.
  • The Simple Living Network -- Resources for simplified living.
  • Most Unusual Religious Web Site -- Promotes tolerance and understanding.
  • Beliefnet -- Spiritual resources on the Internet
  • Spiritual Sisters of the Internet Cafe -- Spiritual resources for women.
  • Intentional Communities -- Web connections to hundreds of "intentional" communities -- including spiritually-oriented and otherwise -- conveniently sorted either alphabetically or geographically.
  • Interfaith Alliance -- Organization encouraging respect and appreciation for many faiths as a positive and healing action for a nation.
  • Moondance E-zine ~ Celebrating Creative Women -- The joy of being woman.
  • White Crane -- A spirituality journal from the gay perspective.
  • The Erowid Spirit Vaults Spiritual Traditions -- A wide variety of Web-based  resources.
  • Endless Satsang -- Many freely downloadable books and other writings by Nirmala, as well as access to online audio and video files.
  • Spiritual Teachers -- A guide to finding a spiritual teacher in the non-dual tradition. Also includes suggested movies and books.
  • School of the Seasons -- Seasonal celebrations from varying traditions. Check the "Archives" page of this site.
  • Radiance of Being -- Reflections on non-duality by Rodney Stevens.
  • Befriending Ourselves -- Resources for inner peace and self-care, including practical steps one can take using mindfulness, self-empathy, emotional freedom, and  psychotherapy, among others.
  • God Bless the Whole World -- Tools for personal and social transformation. Includes an excellent collection of video, audio, and film materials, as well as debates, articles and courses.

Lotus Petals...

Hindu and Yoga Sites

Taoist Sites

Buddhist Sites

  • Buddhist World Portal -- A portal site offering links to all sorts of Buddhist-related Web resources in various traditions and sects: Buddhism for Beginners, talks, festivals, art, movies, and temples galore.
  • American Buddhist -- A Buddhist news portal with sections on the various traditions around the world.
  • thezensite -- If it's Zen-related, you're very likely to find it here. Come to think of it, what isn't Zen-related?
  • The Worst Horse -- The point where the Buddhist rubber meets the road. Pop and sub-culture: funky, punky, funny, and sometimes downright wacky, where hip-hop meets mindfulness with linx-o-plenty.
  • Dharma Seed -- A major effort is underway to preserve the audio teachings of western Theravada Buddhist teachers. This site makes these freely available.
  • BuddhaNet -- A non-sectarian Buddhist portal that includes a collection of downloadable e-books, art, locations of Buddhist centers, etc.
  • Treeleaf Zendo -- An online zendo for Zen students who live in an area where there is no local zendo. Provides a video talk followed by zazen (sitting meditation).
  • Buddhist Information of North America -- Extensive collection of free texts, books, links, audio.
  • Finding the Way -- Stories of people came to Buddhism after following other paths.
  • Zen Buddhism -- A vast collection of information on all aspects of Zen; part of the World Wide Web Virtual Library.
  • Nirvana Sutra -- A presentation of the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, said to be the Buddha's final Mahayana teaching. Translations are available in English and German. The site also includes additional material regarding Nirvana Sutra Buddhism.
  • Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors -- A great introduction to Zen-think -- stories and some reactions to them.
  • Gay & Lesbian Buddhists -- Links to a variety of gay and Lesbian Buddhist Web sites.
  • Learn About Tibetan Buddhism
  • Soto Zen -- Extensive collection of Zen information, including current and archived issues of two periodicals, Zen Friends and Dharma Eye.
  • Rinzai-Obaku Zen -- Japanese site (in English) describing Zen basics, zazen, history, etc. Includes videos, photos and music files.
  • Antaiji -- Life in the Japanese Zen monastery, Antaiji. Includes various language versions other than English (Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish, and Russian). Writings (both classic and current), video (mostly in languages other than English), and pictorial presentations of monastery living and the Zen way.
  • About Zen -- Helpful, concise introduction to Zen.
  • Ch'an Masters -- Patriarchs and other great Zen masters of ancient China. (Part of the Self-Discovery Portal.)
  • Access to Insight -- Excellent selection of Theravada Buddhist writings, including beginner's guide and numerous links.
  • Buddhist Studies -- Includes links to a variety of Buddhist topics.
  • Urban Dharma -- Buddhism for Urban America -- Includes a fine series of writings for Buddhist beginners, plus a collection of e-books in Acrobat (PDF) format available to freely download.
  • Zen, Buddhism, Taoism, Religion, Christianity, and Meditation Discussions
  • DharmaNet -- International Gateways to Buddhism
  • Ladakh Nuns Association -- Organization in support of Tibetan Buddhist women in Ladakh, India, who live the monastic life.
  • Zen Mountain Monastery - Mountains and Rivers Order -- Monastery and retreat center located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State.
  • WZEN.org -- Steaming audio from Zen Mountain Monastery -- inspirational music, poetry, interviews and talk.
  • Order of Buddhist Contemplatives -- Dedicated to Serene Reflection Meditation (Ts'ao-Tung Ch'an in China and Sōtō Zen in Japan), founded by a British woman who went to Japan, became a Zen master, and founded Shasta Abbey in California and numerous other temples and study centers around the world.
  • Gay Buddhist Fellowship - San Francisco
  • The Kwan Um School of Zen -- Worldwide group of centers focused on the instruction of Zen Master Seung Sahn, the first Korean Zen master to live and teach in the west.
  • Vermont Zen Center -- Place for learning and practicing Zen in the Philip Kapleau tradition.
  • Springwater Center -- Retreat center in upstate New York that encourages the way of meditative inquiry encouraged by Toni Packer.
  • eDhamma -- American Theravada Buddhist site with spiritual roots in Burma.
  • American Buddha -- Contains perceptive articles on Buddhism but also much, much more -- from William Blake to Madonna, St. Francis to Carlos Castenada. Articles on authoritarianism and democracy, cults and erotica.
  • Insight Meditation Society & related pages -- Buddhism in the Vipassana tradition.
  • Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun -- A  Buddhist site in the Chan (Chinese Zen) tradition, filled with helpful writings, many in Adobe PDF format, as well as visual and poetic works.
  • Gampo Abbey -- Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Nova Scotia, Canada, whose resident teacher is the prolific nun, Ane Pema Chödrön.
  • Buddha Mind -- Buddhist thought in a fascinating presentation.
  • Dharma Drum Mountain -- Chan Buddhist center providing training, written materials and a wide variety of resources for spiritual growth. Founded by Chan Master Sheng Yen.
  • Dharma Drum Retreat Center -- Chan center located in a rural New York State setting offers regular weekly activities as well as various residential retreats, camps, workshops and introductory sessions. Site includes helpful audio talks as well as written materials in addition to retreat information.
  • Western Chan Fellowship -- British Chan center with contacts in various European countries. Offers retreats, dharma talks, meditation instructions and regular gatherings.
  • Spirit Rock Meditation Center -- Insight Meditation information, including a retreat center.
  • Zen Studies Society -- Zen in the Rinzai tradition, established in 1956 to assist the famous Zen scholar, D. T. Suzuki, in establishing Zen in the West.
  • Women Active in Buddhism Gay Zen LA -- Part of the work of one of the first four Zen centers established in the United States, the International Buddhist Meditation Center in Los Angeles.
  • Sonoma Mountain Zen Center -- Founded by Jakusho Kwong, a direct disciple of Shunryu Suzuki who brought Zen to America in 1959, this center continues Suzuki's Soto Zen teachings.
  • Dharma Haven Diamond Way Buddhism -- Tibetan Buddhist site devoted to the Karmapa.
  • Songs and Meditations of the Tibetan Dhyani Buddhas -- Meditative poetry for visualization.
  • Tricycle -- The Buddhist Review Online -- Includes "Buddhist Basics" for a fine introduction, plus current and past articles from the quarterly magazine. Also a helpful search function to locate a Buddhist study center near you -- click on "Dharma Centers" and fill in your location.
  •  Shambhala Sun - A Buddhist Inspired Magazine -- Online version of the print publication. Contains many articles from current and back issues.
  • Shin Buddhism Network and The Shin Dharma Network -- Shin and Pure Land Buddhism as practiced in the West and in Japan.
  • Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha -- Japanese site (English page) expounding Shin (Pure Land) Buddhism.
  • Gay Men's Buddhist Sangha -- Offering the teachings of Buddha to San Francisco gay men.
  • Buddhism: the Middle Way and Pure Land Salvation -- A site of the Pure Land school, with many documents and links relating to other Buddhist ways of thought, as well.
  • Buddhist Churches of America -- Pure Land Buddhist teachings in the American context, with congregations in many USA cities and towns.
  •  Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery -- Theravada Buddhist monastery in the "Forest Tradition," located in northern California. Includes audio talks, newsletter, photos, and interesting descriptions of Buddhist monastic life in a Western setting.

Jain Sites

  • Essence of Jainism -- Jain literature and thought.
  • Jain World -- Promotes Jain spirituality. Sikh Sites
  • Gateway to Sikhism -- Excellent introduction to Sikh thought and experience.
  • The Sikhism Home Page 3HO -- "Healthy, Happy, Holy," the organization promoting the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, one of the major interpreters of Sikh thought in the West.

Rose Petals...  

Pagan, European, African, Shamanic Sites

Egyptian Sites

Jewish Sites

Gnostic Sites

Christian Sites

New Thought & New Age Sites

Swedenborgian Sites

Shaker Sites

The Dewdrops page includes an article and a photo album about the Shakers.

Islamic Sites

Bahá'í Faith

  • The Bahá'í Faith -- One God, one human race, and one evolving religion. Respects and draws from all great religions.

Esoteric & Mystical Sites

  • Hermetics Resource Site -- Be sure to visit the "Articles and Texts," the "Library" and "Art" collections, which are all truly an extensive collection of hermetic materials. Included are a wide variety of "E-books" -- PDF formatted texts.
  •  Gnosis Magazine -- Published from 1985-1999  (back issues are still available), many excellent articles from past issues are available on the Lumen Foundation's Web site. After you get to the site, click on Sample Articles.
  • School of Wisdom -- Many articles and even complete online books available for reading and study. Emphasizes the thought of Professor Arnold Keyserling of Vienna, Austria.
  •  Servants of the Light -- Founded by W. E. Butler in 1965 and currently directed by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, the SOL is a mystery school providing correspondence study throughout the world. 
  • Esoterica: The Journal of Western Esoteric Studies and Western Esotericism -- a fine collection of articles and images sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University.
  • Esoteric Philosophy Links -- A variety of helpful links to things esoteric.
  • Philosophical Research Society -- Founded by Manly P. Hall, the Society fosters an independent spirit of inquiry, looking for wisdom from every source without endorsing any particular person or path.
  • J.R. Ritman Library - Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica -- Library in Amsterdam specializing in collecting works of the Hermetic-Christian tradition. Web site includes many related articles.
  • Researchers of Truth -- The teachings of the Cyprus mystical Christian known as "Daskalos," who became well-known after the publication of Kyriacos Markides's book, The Magus of Strovolus.
  • The Alchemy Web Site and Virtual Library -- This is a massive site, well-organized. Items from the past and present. Imagery, symbolism, manuscripts old and new.
  • School of Psychoanthropology -- A school in the Gurdjieff, or Fourth Way, tradition located in France. Site available in various languages.

Astrological Sites

  • Medieval Astrology -- Introduction to the study of medieval astrology. Many excellent articles. Study course and books also available.
  • Esoteric Astrology -- Many articles about, and links to, astrological studies.

Tarot & Magickal Sites

Rosicrucian Sites

Theosophical Sites

Unitarian Universalist Sites

 -- Peace --

Peace begins within you.

When one knows inner peace, then acceptance of others who may seem different, and the urge to end conflict between individuals, groups, and nations arises.

That's the message of Lotus and Rose.

Once you are at peace, work to bring peace to others.

Let's work to build a world of understanding and acceptance for the children of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow.