Speaking of Violence

If we can deal with the craziness of the mind, we can help to decrease the craziness and violence of the world. But we have to be so patient and keep faith with the process of of cleaning up our own violence. Even when…

Practise like the barley reaper

In a dialogue between King Milinda and Venerable Nagasena, we hear the Buddha’s instruction on mental training and how to apply our allies of mindfulness, restraint and wisdom.  Devoted to the training, we can overcome ignorance, take hold of the mind and cut off the…

Secure connection, free roaming

Removing our harness to the world, we really detach and make the intention in the mind to stop. Having moved inwardly into this now moment, we pause and secure our internal connection to truth. This work requires our faith, vigilance, sustained attention, care and…

Four astounding things

Four astounding things happen when the Buddha teaches the Dhamma. When he teaches about non-attachment, people want to listen and to understand how to give up attachment. When he teaches about the removal of conceit, people lend ear and try to understand it. People delight…

We Are Not Separate At All

During times of global pandemic, it’s easier to see how deeply connected we are in our vulnerability to disease.  Meditating and touching the silent space of the heart, we see how deeply connected we are at all times – connected in dis-ease; in fear, in…

A Cry of Surprise

In the inner sea, we know what is truly true. Knowing is the mother, breathing is the child. Going beyond past hurts, beyond thought, being old or young, desolate or delighted, go even beyond Covid, there in the timeless emptiness of present moment awareness…

The Quail’s Tale – A Path to Harmlessness

Praising Truth for its own sake, we lean in the direction of Truth. We make our intention not to harm by body, speech, or thought. Harmlessness leads to selflessness. Selflessness leads to the Deathless. To boundless compassion. This will save us from the flames…

Noble Subtrefuge – Four Royal Efforts

How can we trick the mind out of its old habits?  The Buddha emphasized the power of the four Right Efforts. These royal allies advance the mind to its highest potential, the supreme wisdom possible for a human being. We are here to work…

Mantra of Compassion

Fear is the absence of love. Our inner purification is a movement away from fear to the embodiment of pure love – even to love the dying moment. We grow in stillness and peace as if sailing an ocean of joy, in the peace…

The Unequivocal Law of Kamma

Responding to questions about social change during COVID pandemic protests: seeing that we are the owners of our actions, subject to the law of kamma, we can embody the Buddha’s teachings by respecting all beings with compassion, nonviolence and our foundation in virtue, and…