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Category Archives: Q&A
Déjà vu, all over again
Some persons routinely fall in love with the same type of man or woman, even though their previous relationships have not been successful. Others repeatedly become involved in situations at work that lead to discomfort with the job, conflict with … Continue reading
Four Strategies
All of us come to the Dharma with various degrees of wrong views, previous tendencies and conditioning, false identities, afflicted emotions, and extremely sensitive egos. It takes time and effort to leave them behind, or at least transform them sufficiently … Continue reading
“Higher” Practices
There is so much superstition woven around the misunderstood practices of higher yoga tantra, so much ‘twilight language’ (symbolic expression) taken literally, that the simple message is lost and confused. Because Buddha Essence is our nature, all we need for … Continue reading
Posted in Q&A
Tagged 'twilight language', absence of afflicted emotions, “most powerful practice”, “secret way”, Buddha Essence, empty luminosity of the mind, essential reality, higher yoga tantra, liberation and enlightenment, methods, peace and clarity, skillful means, supernatural state, superstition, symbolic expression
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Essential Practice
When faced with the four inevitable events of every life (birth, disease, aging, and death), we realize that most of our daily concerns are vain and superficial. Those things that seem so important in the moment fade away. We regain … Continue reading
Posted in Q&A
Tagged aging, birth, Buddha Shakyamuni, comfort the grieving, death, disease, fame and infamy, four inevitable events, gain and loss, healthy and young, hospitals, nursing homes, petty worldly concerns, pleasure and pain, praise and blame, retirement communities, sense of perspective, Siddhartha Gautama, visit the sick and the old
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“Three Purities” & “Pig’s Delight”
In an attempt to justify their appetite for the flesh of animals, some individuals allege that the Buddha permitted the consumption of meat under three conditions, and that the Buddha himself ate pork. These are patently specious claims. The Pali … Continue reading
Posted in Q&A
Tagged all fear death, Angulimaliya Sutra, ‘pig’s delight’, Brahmajala Sutra, Carolyn Rhys-Davies, Dhammapada, do not kill or cause to kill, extensive arguments against meat-eating, Jivaka Sutta, Karma Sutra, Lankavatara Sutra, life is dear to all, Maha Parinirvana Sutra, Mahamegha Sutra, Nirvana Sutra, Pali Text Society, Shurangama Sutra, sukara-maddava
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‘Sacred’ languages
The Buddha Shakyamuni instructed us to share the Dharma in the language of each community. While it is appropriate for ethnic groups from traditionally Buddhist countries to come together and share the Dharma in their own languages, it is the … Continue reading
Posted in Q&A
Tagged Chinese, communication, Japanese, Magadhi, Pali, Sanskrit, Thai, Tibetan, translation, Tripitaka Masters, vernacular
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Happy New Now!
There are no auspicious or inauspicious days. It is only our thoughts, words, and deeds that make them so. Each moment is a perfect opportunity; each day is entirely new. Whatever date the calendar may say it is, it is … Continue reading
Posted in Q&A
Tagged constant mindfulness, each day is entirely new, each moment is a perfect opportunity, it is always simply now, Karma Purification, no auspicious or inauspicious days, no magic, peace and clarity, ritual transforms the mind, rituals are vehicles for intention, superstition, vows
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Generosity and the Holidays
At this time of the year, we are inundated with appeals from charitable organizations, requesting our assistance for various philanthropic projects. Sadly, there are many organizations whose main beneficiaries are their own officers and professional fundraising contractors, and therefore it … Continue reading
