“Strong determination is our commitment to use our lives to dissolve the indifference, aggression, and grasping that separate us from … More
Tag: Awareness
Burden that I’m carrying all the time
Are you sure, though, that you are really experiencing pain, experiencing it in the fullest way? “Well, I’m not even … More
90 second rule
“An emotion like anger that’s an automatic response lasts just ninety seconds from the moment it’s triggered until it runs … More
Meditation is nothing holy
“When one of the emperors of China asked Bodhidharma (the Zen master who brought Zen from India to China) what … More
Our habitual patterns
“Our habitual patterns are, of course, well established, seductive, and comforting. Just wishing for them to be ventilated isn’t enough. … More
Driving away the unpleasant feelings
“According to Buddhism, most people identify happiness with pleasant feelings, while identifying suffering with unpleasant feelings. People consequently ascribe immense … More
The Answer Is YOU
Because we feel ourselves to be separate from the world in which we live, we have also grown to feel … More
Difference between reaction and response
In a healthy response to pain and fear, we establish awareness before it becomes anger. We can train ourselves to … More
Did I live well?
In the stress and complexity of our lives, we may forget our deepest intentions. But when people come to the … More
All the irritations are crucial
All the things taking place around our world, all the irritations and all the problems, are crucial. Without others we … More
Contemplation
“When people used to complain to the Buddha that they were upset, telling him, “Our children upset us; our partner … More
Company you keep
“As Buddhism has been integrated into the West, the meaning of sangha has come to include all our contemporaries who … More
Be as you are
“Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If … More
It’s never too late
“It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off … More
Basic goodness
Discovering real goodness comes from appreciating very simple experiences. We are not talking about how good it feels to make … More
Make the first move
We have to make the first move ourselves rather than expecting it to come from the phenomenal world or from … More
Buddha nature
Buddha nature is not regarded as a peaceful state of mind or, for that matter, as a disturbed one either. … More
I’m getting more neurotic
Sometimes people will say, “This meditation thing isn’t working at all. I’m not getting calmer, I’m getting more neurotic!” But … More
There is another way
Instead of making others right or wrong, or bottling up right and wrong in ourselves, there’s a middle way, a … More
All thoughts are the same
“In the practice of meditation, all thoughts are the same: pious thoughts, very beautiful thoughts, religious thoughts, calm thoughts – … More
