Category: basic Buddhism
where the quiet joy lives
It’s in the naked ordinariness of our life where the quiet joy lives. Life for me right now is good. I returned from two months of intensive practice in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. My health is…
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Compassion in Buddhism: Why does Kuan Yin have so many hands?
Kuan Yin is an archetype of compassion in Buddhism. Sometimes portrayed as female, or male, or androgynously, they manifest the impulse to help suffering beings. In his celebrated Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot observed: Human kind…
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In Buddhism aging is a practice
As we approach the last pages of our human story, in Buddhism aging as a spiritual practice encourages us to be softer, more vulnerable, more caring and loving. The other day at the hospital, I ran…
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suffering is natural
As a species we seem to have solidified a very real revulsion for the inevitable, as well as toward the smaller slights along the way. We hide death and suffering like some grand failing; we distract…
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wise speech
To say what is true, in ways that promote harmony among people, mindfully and with kindness- this is wise speech. These are tough times, for sure. Many struggle to find a hand-hold while sliding down the…
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why I meditate
I am often asked why I meditate, what am I trying to accomplish by sitting on a cushion? Depending on who asks, I answer something like – To clearly see why I suffer, and with that…
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the secret beauty of the heart
Understanding the central message of the Buddhist traditions can be a complex undertaking. I have met several people who have dedicated their entire adult lives to studying the sutras in the original languages. While their ability…
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refuge
We suffer because we forget what we truly are. We take refuge to remember. We forget we are love and compassion; that we are hard-wired to feel and connect. We forget we are truly and profoundly…
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