As a lay follower of the Buddha, I sometimes think about enlightenment. “What does it feel like to live as an enlightened person?” I ask myself before I close my eyes and sit down to meditate. It’s not a question that comes up often in my daily practice. But when it does, my thoughts and … Read more
You’ve clicked on this article because a typical reading list includes from five to ten books, and you don’t have time to read that many right now. I’ve been there. This issue is further complicated by the fact that Buddhism has many schools that may interest you. However, I can confidently say that there is … Read more
Since starting my meditation practice, I’ve made a habit of observing my inner critic. As a result, I’ve noticed that its most insidious tendency is to weave all kinds of stories around certain situations and people I meet. Usually, those stories are negative. They try to make someone “wrong” and assign blame, all the while … Read more
A lot of things have to be right for your daily sitting practice. Like choosing the right time, place, and ensuring that you’ll not be disturbed. Anyone who wants to focus would take these steps. But what should you do when you close your eyes and realize that random thoughts prevent you from observing your … Read more
Much has been written about lovingkindness, compassion, and altruistic joy in my previous articles. Now we turn to equanimity, the last of the four brahmavihara meditations, also known as the four sublime states of mind. The most important thing to keep in mind about equanimity, or upekkha, is that all three other brahmaviharas are implicit … Read more