Gavril Nikolaev
What are the five precepts of Buddhism? This is what Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh (October 11, 1926–January 22, 2022) explores in his altogether indispensable For a Future to Be Possible: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life. In this book, he offers us a unique translation and interpretation of the five precepts the … Read more
Abstaining from sexual misconduct is one of the most important aspects of being a Buddhist. It’s the third of the five precepts that help us cultivate moral virtue, which serves as a foundation for our meditation practice. While Buddhist monks uphold this teaching by maintaining celibacy, lay followers aim to engage in sexual relations only with love and … Read more
It’s those we love who hurt us the most. Creatures of constant contradiction, they speak and act in the name of love, all the while not knowing how to be in love. They don’t see us; they don’t hear us; they don’t accept us for who we are, right now. And, as we all … Read more
What is the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism? In my last article, I wrote about the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism which, in turn, urge monks to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. I recently found a very accessible and modern interpretation of this concept in the book titled 8 Mindful Steps to Happiness by Ven. … Read more
Last month, I wrote about mindfulness of bodily postures – a simple Buddhist practice for developing mental clarity. Today, I turn to an extension of that practice called mindfulness of bodily activities. Although they both sound similar, their actual instructions are slightly different. Once mindfulness of the four postures has led to awareness of … Read more