As the Buddha was about to become enlightened, his enemy Mara - and Mara's forces - arrived and shot 40,000 arrows of doubt at him. Who was he to be awakened to the Truth of Our Existence? I have heard two stories about what happened next. First, the Buddha calmly looked upon Mara and the [...]
I have been plagued by food cravings since I was eight years old. You might say my drug of choice was toast with cinnamon, sugar and butter. Ugh! Yet these cravings serve as a path to enlightenment. Lately, I have been putting into practice a meditation technique that has lead to a deep awareness within [...]
Bodhisattva. For the non-Buddhist, it is almost certainly a foreign term. Maybe you recall the name of an old Steely Dan album, at best. Put simply, bodhisattva is “a Sanskrit term for anyone or anything motivated by great compassion.” It is a combination of two separate Sanskrit concepts: Bodhi—meaning awakening or enlightenment Sattva—meaning existence, reality [...]
The integration of The Twelve Steps with Buddhism has become increasingly popular, as mindfulness continues to cross over from "spiritual philosophy" to practical, every day self-care. This morning, it dawned on me that the words Buddha spoke upon his awakening were very much like those of people in 12 Step programs who have taken the 2nd [...]
Letting go, detaching, is powerful medicine. Let me start by saying, I did not invent this letter. I have taught it to hundreds of people who have never learned how to structure letting go so that it works for them. […]
Suzuki Roshi said there is no better instruction for how to meditate than just “Sit Still.” Buddha said there is no greater suffering than craving. In fact, his definition of Hell was just that: craving, desiring, hankering, longing. […]
Happy Birthday to those who love the November born. Their birthday is the topaz, considered the stone of the seeker. Give the gift of a birthstone Jizo to your beloved November-baby. Topaz is also considered the stone of Sagittarius, all the way into December! Find him at www.jizoandchibi.com. What could be better than a gift [...]
