You are never in complete control of your life. Letting go of this illusion realigns you with the flow of your current circumstances and lets them work for you rather than against you. This is what mindfulness meditation can help you achieve by providing insight into the three marks of existence. Contrary to popular … Read more
Did the Buddha say, “There is no self”? To answer this question, I turn to an article from Access to Insight written by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. He begins by saying that anatta, the Buddhist doctrine of no self, is one of the first major obstacles for Westerners trying to understand Buddhism. He writes: First, the idea … Read more
Mindfulness of mental states allows you to conduct a continuous inward monitoring by asking, “How is the mind?” From this perspective, outside events — where all our attention usually goes — become secondary. What really matters is your mind’s reaction to them. Developing this awareness is the main task of this mental exercise, which … Read more
Nirvana is considered the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and the pinnacle of the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. But its exact definition remains ever elusive. “It has been said by one witty scholar that all we have to go on is our misconception of Nirvana, because until we have realised it … Read more