Category Archives: Teachers

204 – The Importance of Form

Posted on April 1, 2012 by

Over the years, I’ve encountered many fellow practitioners who are very concerned with “proper sitting form.” When I first began formal practice, I also was concerned about achieving a respectable lotus or half lotus position, believing that this was the … Continue reading →

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202 – The Five Remembrances

Posted on March 2, 2012 by

Also called the Five Daily Recollections, I’ve found this set of reflections to be a powerful tool for awakening to the teachings. Larry Rosenberg has written a book on them (Living in the Light of Death: On the Art of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dhamma Matters, Five Recollections, Four Noble Truths, Insight Practice, Teachers, Vipassana | 1 Comment

201 – Consciousness / Vinnana

Posted on February 7, 2012 by

Ever since the group sit last week, I’ve been mulling over what consciousness is and how we experience it. In the West, the term is defined in various ways, but most often as representing awareness of oneself as an entity … Continue reading →

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198 – The True Teaching

Posted on December 10, 2011 by

The following is from this month’s Full Moon Journal from the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. The translation is by senior scholar, Andrew Olendzki. Andy is one of my teachers, and I have always found his sutta, commentary and poetry … Continue reading →

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189 – A Moment of Freedom

Posted on October 17, 2011 by

What would it be like to be with our experience without holding on to it? If you can imagine such a state you are experiencing a moment of awakening. It is what happens when the sense doors make contact with … Continue reading →

Posted in Background on Buddhism, Dhamma Discussion, Dhamma Matters, Insight Practice, Practice, Teachers, Vipassana | 4 Comments

188 – Full Moon Insight Journal from BCBS

Posted on October 13, 2011 by

There’s a great article this month from Buddhist teacher Toni Bernhard called Deep Dukkha which will resonate with most of us. Find the journal here.

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186 – “Democrazy”

Posted on October 2, 2011 by

I received the following email from my teacher, Santikaro: A Thai scholar friend asked me to translate the following: Democracy — of the people, for the people, by the people — is only workable when the people are grounded in … Continue reading →

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185 – Working with Personality View

Posted on September 26, 2011 by

The role of skillful teachers in guiding our practice can’t be over emphasized. A good teacher is like a good tour guide, pointing out the way and advising us so that we don’t stray too far from the path. When … Continue reading →

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173 – An Optimum Mode of Being

Posted on July 10, 2011 by

Buddha is nothing but the optimum mode of being possible for man in his present condition. –Stephen Batchelor The historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, existed and is remarkable because he discovered a method for awakening which involves acknowledging suffering, understanding its causes, … Continue reading →

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164 – Maturation of Practice

Posted on June 3, 2011 by

Lee, from Clear and Empty Mind, has posted an interesting discussion  between Ken McLeod and Jack Kornfield on the differences between Mahayana and Theravada practice and other topics. You can find it here: http://clearemptymind.com/2011/06/03/maturation-of-practice/.

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