Tag Archives: Applied Buddhism
Harsh Truths You Need to Accept
To Live a Happy Life The Dhammapada tells us that. All beings seek happiness and fear pain and death. This seems obvious on the face of it, but we act as if it weren’t true. We look for happiness in … Continue reading
What Is Mindfulness?
What is mindfulness and what does it mean to you? Mindfulness is a shift in the way we pay attention. During that subtle shift our entire world can transform from the inside out. When it comes to mindfulness there is … Continue reading
The Matrix of Practice
Dengyo Daishi once wrote, “A devout believer in the Buddha’s Law who is also a wise man is truly obliged to point out to his students any false doctrines, even though they are principles of his own sect. He must … Continue reading
Taking Courage
Nonviolence is the highest form of unpretentious humility. It is ultimate courage. Anyone who avoids using violence has strength. The real conflict of the 21st century is not between cultures or even religions. It is between violence and nonviolence. It … Continue reading
Avoiding Poison
The recent bombings and increased activities of religious extremists have provoked a myriad of responses, both rational and irrational. In the United States people of power tend to react instead of responding. The reaction is normally superficial and immature. They … Continue reading
Poor Suffering Baby
We have a problem — you have and I have it. I may have worked on it a little longer on it than you have, but maybe not. Here is the problem: we have very little motivation to give up … Continue reading
Rational Amidism: Prayer
I am often asked if Buddhists, any Buddhist, believe in a Supreme Being analogous to the Western God. My answer is always, “No, we don’t. If any sect proclaims an original anything then they are not Buddhist.” Clearly, belief in … Continue reading
The Distortion of Perception — the Vipallasas
The vipallasas are the distortion of views, perceptions and thoughts affected by either defilements or by the words of another. So my thoughts, perceptions and especially my views about what I am now writing is an example of how these … Continue reading
The Need To Be Heard
We live in a society that demands we be fair, honest and sensitive to the “needs” of others. There is the claim that we want every voice to be heard. We sometimes, albeit rarely, make the distinction between “hearing” and … Continue reading
Going Beyond the Smoke and Mirrors
Illumination or Elimination Many people who go to a formal meditation retreat want to get something. That something might be relaxation, stress relief, a sense of community, simple silence or even some kind of illumination leading to special insight. There … Continue reading
Fists Full of Sand 