All Discussions (720)

Sort by

BODHI DAY

On December 8 we celebrate the anniversary of the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. Let us reflect a little upon this.

Siddhartha Gotama was somebody who threw himself into things. In his early life he evidently was a sensitive lad given to reflect

Read more…
5 Replies

SILENT ILLUMINATION

There is a form of Zen or Chan meditation that is called silent illumination. It has been said that illumination simply means awareness and that this method is, therefore, that of sitting still in complete awareness, simply allowing life to pass by.

Read more…
1 Reply

THE HYPNOTIC SELF


Self is an intervening fantasy that masks reality. What does this mean?

Perhaps one eats too much chocolate. One feels a bit sick. One learns not to eat so much of it at one go. Simple.

However, what may happen is that after eating too much chocolate

Read more…
2 Replies

KARMA 6 (final): GIVING IT AWAY

MERIT TRANSFERENCE

In Buddhist temples we often perform merit transference ceremonies in which we wish for the transference of merit to people in need. We hope that they will be relieved of suffering or helped along their spiritual path. We can under

Read more…
0 Replies

KARMA 4: THE KARMIC CONTINUUM

KARMA & REBIRTH
Karma is what is reborn. At the end of a life one looks back. A process of life review occurs. From this review something stands out as the hallmark of the life that has been lived. Perhaps it was a particular meeting: “In this life I

Read more…
0 Replies

KARMA 3: EGO AND ANATMA

In Karma 1, I introduced the common idea of karma as a moral profit and loss account in which good is rewarded and bad reaps its corresponding negative effects. However, there are deeper ideas of karma that we can explore that can be useful to conte

Read more…
0 Replies

ON NOT UNDERRATING THE DHARMA

Buddhism is a mystical religion.It is noumenal. It does not fit within the common paradigm, but soars far beyond.

Those who turn their hearts and attention to what is beyond this world are called mystics. Buddha was one. This is why he is called a m

Read more…
0 Replies