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The Unaware Consumer

7/31/2013

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Everyday, we are bombarded with messages and information through our culture’s media, whether it’s online, print, movies, or TV.  Every time we view a media piece, we are at some level consuming its message unaware.  Many of these are not good for us ... they make us want what we don’t have, be who we are not; they foment cravings that pull us from the path.  This is true of most ads and much plot-driven material.  Other pieces may be worthwhile efforts addressing an important issue, but their disturbing nature can also be harmful.

The Fifth Precept, as interpreted by Thich Nhat Hanh, says in part:

“Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming.  I will ingest only items that preserve peace, well being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society.”

The importance of this precept cannot be overstated.  You may be working your Buddhist practice very diligently, but if you are constantly consuming things that convey messages which are fundamentally at odds with Buddhist teaching on how to view yourself and the world around you, then you are setting yourself up for even greater challenges to walking the path than are inherent in just living in our culture with your learned experience.

With regards to all those commercials and other pieces which make you want what you don’t have, or more of what you do have, or to be someone who you are not ... whether in a calculated way or not ... they should be avoided.  Sometimes you can’t tell at the start what something is about, but as soon as you have this realization, you should stop.  There is no redeeming social value from a Buddhist perspective to such communication.

With regards to those publications or movies that are serious, worthwhile efforts to address an important social or psychological issue, but are presented in a way that makes them relentlessly depressing as opposed to uplifting, the question of whether or not to consume such material is more complicated.  On the one hand, Buddhism is not about escaping from the real world.  It is very important for a Buddhist to be aware of the suffering that occurs throughout the world.  From that standpoint, consuming such material has real value.

On the other hand, depending on the stage of your practice, too much of a good thing can be bad.  Media pieces about all the “bad” things happening in the world ... whether to people, animals, or the environment ... can be overwhelming.  And very demoralizing if not upsetting.  

If you are at that point in your practice where you have compassion for all people ... even those who do harmful things ... and you are free of any negative emotions, then you can consume such material without harm to yourself.  But if you are not at that advanced stage, then it is best to limit your exposure to such material so that you can continue to develop compassion for all people and free yourself from negative emotions. Why is such a restriction necessary?  Because if you overdose on such material, an easy thing to do, it will make it much harder for you to free yourself from anger and see the world through the eyes of your true Buddha nature.

There is one more type of material, regardless how serious and well-intentioned, that can be harmful to you.  If you have negative thoughts about yourself and you consume material that triggers those negative thoughts, such material is harmful to you.  Likewise, if you are addicted to anything, consuming material that triggers that addiction is harmful.  You should refrain from consuming either type of material.

Walking the Buddhist path while living in and interacting with our culture poses challenges daily.  Some are obvious, some are less so.  But in all cases, being aware of the forces around us and mindfully choosing what we consume will make walking the path a little easier.

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Being Present Is the Key to Peace and Contentment

7/28/2013

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Over the past few weeks, I’ve written several posts or advice pieces about the power of being present without the intervention of thought (which is to say, in touch with one's true Buddha nature), just observing the moment, being aware of yourself and your surroundings, aware of reality.  And I’ve developed a mantra to recite which helps me get into the moment, both while meditating and throughout the day:

“Breathing in, I’m aware I’m breathing in.  Breathing out, I’m aware I’m breathing out.  Here there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, no today ... only the present moment.  This is the only reality.  All else is thought.”

As I’ve noted in many posts, the main challenge in walking the path at this point in my practice is being aware 24/7 of my ego-mind arising in all of its manifestations, especially in ones that are more innocuous.  Since my thinking mind, my ego-mind, is at the center of all my perceived problems, all my frustrations, all my samsara ... since it is the repository of all my learned experiences ... the perfect antidote to my thinking mind is being present free of the intervention of thought.  (NOTE: one can never be literally free of thought, it is always there like the ego, but one can through awareness be free of its intervention.)

I already knew that when I was able to be present without thought, I experienced peace, contentment, love, and oneness with all things.  If there was a real problem right now in the present I would be aware of it but I would have compassion towards it and have no thought about its future.  I had faith that if I live each moment well, the future will take care of itself.  But if my thinking mind intruded and hijacked me, my feelings of peace and contentment would be lost and I would be anxious, frustrated, and agitated.

For example, the other day, I was out and about and witnessed something that pushed my buttons regarding a degrading aspect of our culture. ... really bad suburban sprawl in an exurban area.  This may seem silly to you, but I was demoralized and upset, offended, by this omnipresent issue; you can hardly go anywhere without running into it.  This morning while I was present I asked myself whether this was just an example of my own perception, in which case I should let it go, or did it represent a real problem.

I replayed what I saw but this time with myself being present free of the intervention of thought, in touch with my true Buddha mind.  And what I found was that I was aware that this phenomenon was truly harmful both to the environment and to people, but I accepted that it’s just the way it is and I had compassion both for the people who created this sprawl and all  those who lives are impacted by it in unknown ways.  I felt concern but was free of agitation.

As the ancient poem, “Affirming Faith in Mind,” says (in my paraphrasing):

“When the mind is one with the way,
The mind rests undisturbed.
And when the mind is undisturbed
Nothing in the world offends.”

While awareness of the problems caused by my thinking mind, my ego-mind, were not new to me ... that’s what surrendering my ego to my true Buddha nature and turning my will and my life over to its care is all about ... my developing practice of being present free of the intervention of thought has shown its very practical power in helping me follow that path.  I am finding it to be the key to my opening dharma gates, opening the door to reality, opening the door to peace and contentment.  

By increasing my awareness throughout the day, 
I am slowly expanding the amount of time when I am able to be present, free of the intervention of thought, just observing, because I am able to be very aware if my ego-mind arises.  When it does, I show it compassion and understanding, but note firmly that I have looked deep within myself and found that what it is urging on me is not what will bring me peace and contentment and that from now on I will be looking for such guidance to my true Buddha nature.

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Step #7: Came to Free Ourselves from Our Cravings and All Emotions, Judgments, and Attachments

7/17/2013

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Being aware of the emptiness of all five skandhas, having embraced all aspects of our being, and knowing that we have inside ourselves all that we need to be at peace and happy, and having formed the intent to not allow anything to disturb that peace and happiness, we find that we are free of our cravings.   All internal struggle is gone.  There is nothing outside us that we seek.

Now there are two things to be aware of.  The one is that it's possible that as you've worked the previous steps, they have not arisen from within, from your heart, but more intellectually.  In that case, our inner struggles are still very active but you have a powerful tool to set them aside.

The other is that even if you have worked these steps from your heart, your ego-mind is still part of you and it will look for moments of weakness to assert itself.  So one still has to be on guard.  Even the Buddha was frequently approached by Mara, his tempter, to pull him from the path.

The powerful tool that allows you to set aside any cravings, any emotions, judgments, or attachments is always have at the forefront your intent to not allow anything to disturb your peace and happiness; that is what you value most.  If you experience anything that agitates you, disturbs you, that is a red flag to stop and take a breath.  

In the battle of light v darkness, the heart v the ego-mind, it is your responsibility to test all guidance that you receive.  Regardless how strong the craving or emotion, regardless how noble or warranted it may seem, it is your responsibility to say "no" to anything that disturbs your peace and happiness.

As you know from my post, "How to Desire Yet Not Crave," two things are possible.  Either the action you were taking or contemplating was an unskillful desire, not consistent with the Five Precepts, in which case you need to stop it.  Or the action is in and of itself skillful ... like helping someone or trying to find a friend ... but you are approaching it from a lack of equanimity and so you need to find a way of grounding the action in equanimity.  Remember, nothing is more important to you than your peace and happiness,

Walking the path is an incremental process.  And your ego-mind will always be a part of you.  Do not be dismayed.  You are in good company,  The important thing is to continue to walk the path with as much discipline as your can muster.
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Step #6: Came to Believe That We Have Everything We Need Within Ourselves to Be at Peace and Happy, and Formed the Intent to Not Allow Anything to Disturb Our Peace and Happiness.

7/16/2013

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Being aware of the emptiness of all five skandhas and having embraced all aspects of our being, we come to know that we have within ourselves everything we need to be at peace and happy.  

I had read this in Pema Chodron a long time ago and it rang true and was comforting.   However, I was not able to feel this from inside and so I while I experienced moments of happiness, I was not happy.  There was always a cloud over me.  

Only I knew my true self was my heart, and I meditated on my heart embracing all aspects of my being did I suddenly know this.  There is no more I can say; it just happened.  See my post, "The Heart's Embrace."

​If you are not yet at the stage of your practice where you are able to feel this truth from within, you can still derive benefit from this teaching.  See my post, "We Have Everything We Need to Be at Peace and Happy Inside Ourselves." 

Once we know, whether from within or from faith, that we have everything within ourselves to be at peace and happy, that the natural state of our heart is peace and happiness, we then form the intent to not allow anything to disturb that peace and happiness.

Forming this intent is of critical importance.  Without that clear intent, without holding this at the forefront of your mind as you go about your day, you will not be able to work the next step successfully and free yourself.


After working the first step we knew that what we valued most was our peace and happiness.  Now, we know that this is our birthright and will not allow anything to disturb that peace and happiness.  And so we work the next step. 






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Go Slow

7/9/2013

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One of the many unfortunate aspects of our contemporary culture is that we are always rushing.  Whatever we are doing, often even “leisure” activities, we rush.  We move at a pace which is unnecessarily and counterproductively fast.  I don’t know if it’s because we’re afraid we won’t get everything done that’s on our to-do list, or if it’s a kind of distraction to keep our minds off things we’d rather not think about, or if it’s just something we’ve learned at some point during our life.  

All I know is that this tendency to rush is automatic.  Even living here in the country, with precious little on my agenda or to-do list, I still catch myself rushing ... in this case walking quickly.  And then I slow down and move at a reasonable pace.

What’s the problem with rushing?  If you’re rushing, you can’t be present.  If you’re rushing you can’t be aware of what’s going on around you, you can’t stop and smell the roses, you can’t observe.  And if you are not aware of what’s going on around you, if you can’t observe, then you aren’t present in the moment because being present is savoring experiencing the moment.  If your rushing, you also can’t really focus on the task you are performing; to be present with the task, to give it the attention it deserves, you need to go slow.

It’s amazing what a difference it makes to ones experience of time when you stop rushing about.  All of a sudden, it one is trained (an important part of walking the path is learning to observe, which goes beyond seeing; see my book, The Self in No Self), you have the space to observe.  Whether you live in the city or in the country, it is observation of what is around you that enriches life, that places you in the context of the rest of humanity and nature. You are aware of everything and, if you have reached that stage of your practice, your awareness is free of the intervetion of thought, free of labels.

So try and be aware of your pace in going through the day.  If you aware you are rushing, slow down.  It will not only strengthen your ability to connect spirituality with your environment, it will improve your work product.

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The Myanmar Situation

7/6/2013

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When I read about Buddhist mobs attacking, ransacking, and killing Muslims because they were incited by monks (in person, on DVDs, and on the web) who called Muslims the “enemy” and a threat, I was very sad.  The Dalai Lama has spoken out in interviews against the violence, but the situation is so extreme and grave that more direct in-person action by him and others is needed, I fear.

The New York Times reports that the group’s leader, Anshin Wirathu, says he’s proud to be called a “radical Buddhist.”  When asked about the reported recent massacre of schoolchildren and others, he commented approvingly that “it was a show of strength.  If we are weak, our land will become Muslim.”  His followers now account for about half the monks in Myanmar.

Apparently this faction feels that Buddhism is under siege, in this majority Buddhist country, because Muslims have more children and are acquiring land and businesses.  This is a grievance that stems from colonial days when Indian Muslims were brought in by the British as civil servants.

History is full of examples where religion has been used to foment hatred against the “other” and caused ongoing violence and even wars.  Whether used as a tool by nationalist or sectarian leaders or whether religious leaders themselves felt aggrieved the result has been a perversion of religion’s message of peace and understanding.  

For this to be perpetrated by Buddhists in a Buddhist country is beyond understanding.  The Buddha dharma is centered on the oneness of all beings, unconditional love and compassion, nonviolence, and understanding that our perceptions are empty of intrinsic existence.  In their anger, pride, jealousy, and ignorance, these monks show that they are filled with the Five Afflictions.  They and their followers need to be healed, to be brought back to the Buddhist path.

All Buddhists everywhere should practice Tonglen for these tortured souls.  But beyond such action, I believe that the presence of the Dalai Lama in Myanmar, speaking directly to the monks and the people, would have a beneficial effect.

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The Present Beyond Us

7/3/2013

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Recently while meditating I had a revelatory experience.  I was in the present, watching my breath, aware that the only reality is the present, all else is thought, and savoring the moment ... meaning my feelings and sensations at the moment, when all of a sudden my Buddha mind took me to both known and unknown corners of the earth.  I saw people I knew as they were at that moment, I saw places as they were at that moment, I saw people suffering at that moment, I saw the spacecraft Voyager heading beyond the solar system out into interstellar space (I had just read an article about it). 

And the even stranger thing was that during the experience I never stopped being present in the moment, it’s just that the geographical place of the moment expanded to include the world and everyone in it.  There was no thought involved here.  I was not escaping my present moment.  For the first time I perceived that if you are at one with all things, the present moment is much larger than your immediate circumstance and feelings, it is the immediate circumstance and feelings of all beings.

When we feel trapped in our present circumstance, it is our ego-mind that makes us feel trapped.   It is not a reflection of reality.  We know that all things are impermanent and changeable, and that we are just a drop in the ocean of all humanity and sentient beings.  Our oneness with all things allows us to experience all things everywhere while we are sitting on our pillow or otherwise in a meditate state.

And so, even though this experience has not repeated itself in the days since, when I am present I am aware that the present moment goes far beyond the range of my sight and hearing.  As the classic poem, In Praise of Zazen, says, “How vast is the heaven of boundless samadhi!”

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    All
    1. The Goal Of Buddhism
    1. The Goal Of Buddhism - Clarified
    2. End Of Suffering Cheat Sheet
    3. 12 Steps On The Buddhist Path
    4. The Choice Is Yours
    5. You Have A Self But It's Not The Ego
    6. The Mind - Understanding Its Facets
    A Buddhist Trinity - Amended
    A Buddhist Trinity - Further Support
    A Buddhist Trinity - The Core Path To Peace And Happiness.
    A Carefree Day And Life
    Acceptance Is The Answer
    Accepting The Life Of Those Around You
    Acknowledgement Of The Cause Of Suffering Is Key
    Allow Nothing To Disturb Your Peace And Happiness
    An Open Letter To President-elect Trump And All Americans
    Antagonist Or Challenge?
    A Path To Compassion And Loving Kindness
    Approaching The Other Shore
    A Prayer For America On This Election Day
    Are You Reading And Willing To Let Your Cravings Go?
    As A Buddhist How Do You Plan - Revisited Again - Relying On Your Buddha Nature
    As A Buddhist How Do You Think About The Future?
    As A Buddhist … Revisited Again - Do We Need To Know Where We’re Headed?
    As A Buddhist ... Revisited - Planning Without Thinking
    As A Buddhist … Revisited Yet Again - How Do You Implement Moving Forward Without Having A Destination Point?
    A Simpler Path To Experiencing Joy
    Attachment To Self
    Avatars - Their Usefulness
    Back To Basics
    Be A Light Unto Yourself And Others
    Be Aware When Reading - Yearn To Please Or To Offer Joy?
    Be Careful The Monk/Teacher You Choose
    Befriend Yourself
    Being Aware Of Abundance
    Being Good To Yourself
    Being - Not Being
    Being One With Your True Buddha Self
    Being Present Is Being Flexible
    Being Present Is The Key To Peace And Contentment
    Being Present - No What If’s Or Imagining The Future
    Being Present - Part 2
    Being Present Requires Faith
    Being There For Someone
    Belief In You Buddha Nature - The Beginning And The End
    Believe In Yourself
    Be One With Your Divine Essence
    Be Sustained By The Love Of Buddha Within You
    Be The Eye Of The Hurricane
    Beware Complacency
    Beyond Acceptance
    Beyond Awareness
    Beyond Dispassion - The Next Step
    Boredom
    Boundaries
    Buddha Mind - Child Mind
    Buddha Mind Free Of Thought
    Buddha Nature Gentle And Serene
    Buddhism And The Divine
    Burying Your Old Identity
    Burying Your Old Identity - II - Separating Yourself From Your Old Identity
    Can't Find Your Buddha Nature - Look In The Mirror
    Change Your Life By Changing The Direction Of Its Energy Flow
    Changing The Direction Of Your Energy Flow - II - Manifesting
    Changing Your Reactions
    Chicken Or Egg ?
    Cleansed
    Co-existence Of Buddha Nature And Ego-Mind
    Compassion
    Control
    Control Your Reality
    Craving "Survival" Condemns You To Suffering
    Crying - An Understanding
    Darkness Before Light
    Darkness V Light
    Death And Life
    Death And Life - Part 2
    Death Heaven And Hell
    Deflating The Ego
    Dependence
    Desire - The Gerbil Trap
    Desperate For Love And Acknowledgment?
    Discipline - It’s Essential
    Dislike - An Insidious Obstruction
    Dispassion Does Not Mean Wtihout Feeling
    Dispassion - Enter The State Of By Becoming Aware Of The Emptiness Of Our Ego-mind
    Dispassion - Obstacles And Options To Achieve It
    Dispassion - Unlocking The Doors
    Don't Just Negate Specifics - Replace Your Total Frame Of Reference
    Don't Just Say No To Your Mind
    Don’t Speak/Help Unless Asked
    Don’t Waste A Moment
    Don’t Waste A Moment
    Do We Suffer Or Not? - The Choice Is Ours
    Do You Really Want To Be At Peace And Content
    Ego - Changing Your Relationship With It
    Embrace The Moment Not Merely Accept
    Emptiness - What Does It Mean?
    Emptying Myself Of Myself - The Divine's Will Not Mine
    Enter Your Buddha Mind
    Equanimity But Feel Someone’s Pain
    Everything That Disturbs Us Is A Product Of Suffering
    Everything You Need To Be Happy
    Everything You Need To Be Happy- II
    Evil - How Should A Buddhist Respond?
    Expectations? - Not If You Want To End Suffering
    Experiencing The Fullness Of The Present
    Facing My Insecurity
    Faith And Mind Not Separate
    Faith And Mind Not Separate - 2
    Faith And Mind - Take III
    Faith And Reason
    Faith Even When You Are Dependent On Others
    Faith: The Essential Element Of Spiritual Practice
    Faith: What Is It And Why Is It Essential?
    Fear And Anxiety - There's More
    Fear Anxiety And Craving - Chicken Or Egg #2
    Fear Arises From Our Desire To Control
    Fearlessness
    Fear's Destructive Impact
    Fear V Common Sense
    Fear V Faith
    Feeling Lack - A Most Insidious Perception
    Feeling Off? - Adjust Your Attitude
    Finding Happiness In Each Moment
    Forgiveness - A Different Take
    Freedom From The Future
    Freedom From The Known
    Freedom - What Does It Mean?
    Freeing Yourself From Anger And Resentment
    Freeing Yourself From Attachments
    Freeing Yourself From Fear
    Freeing Yourself From Fear II
    Freeing Yourself From Fear - III
    Freeing Yourself From Suffering - The Prerequisite Step
    Freeing Your Soul
    Freeing Your Soul - II
    Freeing Your Soul - III
    Free Of Thought - Important Clarification
    Frustration ... Our Canary In The Mine
    Get Over Yourself
    Getting To Know Your True Buddha Self
    Give Yourself A Choice
    Going Through Life With Blinders - The Obstruction Of Labels
    Good Guys Finish Last?
    Go Slow
    Grateful For Being Alive
    Guilt
    Guilt And The Defensive Beast
    Half Measures Don't Work
    Happenstance
    Happenstance - Part II - You Your Buddha Nature And The Universe
    Happiness Is Elusive
    Happiness - What You Need To Be Happy
    Happy New Year 2017?
    Have Directions Not Goals
    Have Faith In The Process
    Have You Heard Of Narcs - The Final Answer To Why I Was Frowning
    Healing Your Inner Child - Healing Your Wounded Heart
    Healing Your Inner Child - Update
    Hell Is Just Resistance To Life
    How I Failed Myself
    How The Ego-Mind Tries To Destroy Faith
    How To Desire Yet Not Crave?
    How To Find Faith?
    How To Find Your True Self Your Heart
    How To Free Yourself From The Control Of Your Ego-Mind
    How To Live In Our World
    How To Love Yourself
    How To Maintain Joy Regardless What
    How To Observe Through The Eyes Of Your True Buddha Self
    How To Offer Others Joy
    How To Process The Election
    How To Protect Yourself Against Psychic Attack
    How To Respond To Acts Of Aggression
    How To Spiritually Respond To The Election?
    How To Start The Day
    How To Surrender Your Ego Or Turn Your Will And Your Life Over To The Care Of Your True Buddha Nature
    Humbling Myself
    Humility
    Humility - How To Gain It?
    Humility - The Price Of The Lack Of Humility
    Humility: The Truth About "My" Good Accomplishments
    I Am Being Reborn
    I Am Therefore I Am
    If Nothing Offends All Internal Struggle Ceases
    If This Is Practical Buddhism Why The Pastoral Setting
    "If You Love Someone You Will Suffer"
    Imagining In Meditation
    I'm Back
    I’m Grateful To Be A Jubu
    Inner Happiness - Outer Happiness
    Innocence Or Ignorance?
    Insecurity - Nurture Not Nature
    Instead Of Forgiveness Show Compassion
    It Doesn’t Have To Be
    It's All About Survival - Or Is It?
    It's A Sin -The Harm We Inflict On Ourselves
    It’s Just The Way It Is
    It’s Just The Way It Is And It’s All OK
    It's Just The Way It Is - Take III
    It’s No Crime To Think About Oneself!
    Joy - A Hopefully Final Take
    Joy - At Last Real Understanding
    Joy - Experience It Now
    Joyful Dispassion - Excited Non-attachment
    Joyful Dispassion - Update
    Joy/Happiness - A Choice We Make
    Joy - One More Take
    Joy - The Final Take - Taking Joy In Each Moment Is Only Possible When You Radiate Light
    Joy - Yet Another Take
    Knowing Best?
    Know The Greatness Within You
    Know Thyself - The Power Of Awareness
    Know Who You Are - Be Who You Are
    Lack V Abundance
    Learning From Falling Off The Spiritual Wagon
    Let Go - Let God
    Letting Go
    Letting Others Go Their Way
    Liberate Yourself From Thinking
    Likes And Dislikes - A Potential Trap Examined
    Listening To Others
    Listening - Why Is It So Difficult?
    Looking For Your Treasure
    Love At First Sight - NOT
    Love/Loving-Kindness - Defined In The Buddhist Context
    Love Yourself Unconditionally
    Make It Your Own - An Extension Of “The Heart’s Embrace”
    Making Lists - Objectifying Your Fears The Things That Push Your Buttons
    Making Peace With The Outside; Making Peace With The Inside
    Making Sense Of Being Tested
    Making The Most Of Every Day
    Manifestation - DANGER DANGER!
    Manifesting
    Manifesting In The Moment
    Meditation - Coming Home Releasing And Being At Peace
    Meditation - The Importance Of Daily Practice
    Memory - Don’t Trust It
    Mental Obstructions
    Mind Resting Undisturbed
    Mirror Mirror On The Wall - A Revelation
    Mirror Time
    Money And Spirituality
    My Daily Task
    My Daily Task - 2
    My Ego's Sneak Attack
    My Life - A Being Dichotomized
    My Meditation Isn't Working!
    My Mind Trapped Me
    My Road To Peace
    My True Buddha Self And Me
    Nature Of Mind Revealed - A Transformation
    Never Stop Going Deeper
    Newly Discovered Trauma
    Nirvana - It's Right Before Your Eyes
    No Expectations No Hope?
    No One’s Life Is Ordinary
    No Reason To Be Defensive
    No Self - Not!
    No Spiritual Force Can Protect You From Yourself Your Mind
    Not Engaging Your Thoughts
    Nothing To Prove
    Not Me - Peeling Off The Layers Of Our Ego-Mind
    Observe
    Offering Others Joy - From The Heart
    Offer Joy Experience Joy
    Offer Myself Joy!
    Oneness Does Not Mean Sameness
    Opening The Door To Being Present
    Our Over-sexed Culture And Lives
    Pain - A Cry For Help
    Paradise Lost
    Peace And Happiness Is Your Birthright
    Peace - What It Is And How To Achieve It
    Personal Boundaries As Part Of A Buddhist Life
    Preparing A Child For Life
    Pride Is A Function Of The Devil
    Problem - NOT!
    Proof Of The Nature Of Mind - Fear Ego And Buddha Mind
    Prosperity And Abundance
    Protecting Yourself From The Elements
    Psychiatry Needs To Incorporate Buddhist Teaching
    Putting Spirituality Into Practice 24/7
    Que Sera Sera - Whatever Will Be Will Be
    Real Clarity V The Delusion Of Clarity
    Reality Is Not What We Experience
    Receiving The Love Of Your Buddha Nature
    Reciting Affirmations
    Reclaiming The Narrative Of My Life - II
    Reclaiming The “Story” Of Your Life
    Reflecting On 75 Years
    Reincarnation - An Unorthodox Take
    Rejoice And Be Happy
    Rejoice And Be Happy - II
    Releasing All Desire
    Releasing All Desire - II
    Releasing Negative Energy
    Renouncing What You Have Always Depended On
    Replacing Weakness With Strength
    Reprogram Your Mind To End Your Suffering
    Returning Home - Returning To Your True Buddha Nature
    Right Attitude
    Ritual Burning Of The Past
    Safety Defined
    Saying Grace
    Saying “No” To Negative Thought
    Seeing The Light
    Seeing Through The Eyes Of Your True Buddha Self
    Seek And You Shall Find
    Seeking Guidance From Buddha Mind Not Ego Mind
    Seeking Guidance From The Buddha/God/the Universe - II
    Seeking Guidance From The Buddha/God/the Universe - III
    Seeking Guidance From The Buddha/God/the Universe - IV
    See Things Through Your Heart Not Your Mind
    See Yourslef And The World Through Different Eyes
    Self Re-examined
    Self-Responsibility During The Pandemic
    Sex - Misused And Abused - A Different Perspective
    Shall We Dance? - An Invitation To The Dance Of Death
    Shame
    Soul’s Yearning Distorted By The Ego-Mind
    Soul -True Self - And Ego-Mind
    Speaking The Truth
    Speaking To Your Buddha Nature/Divinity/Heart
    Speak The Truth But Beware
    Starving The Ego
    Step #10: Continued To Be Mindful Of The Arising Of Cravings And Desires And When They Arose Did Not Attach To Them And Allowed Them To Subside.
    Step #11: Sought Through Meditation To Constantly Improve Our Conscious Contact With Our True Buddha Nature
    Step #1: Admitted Our Cravings Cause Us Suffering And That We Are Powerless Over Them
    Step #2: Came To Believe That Our True Buddha Nature Could Restore Us To Peace And Created A Platform Of Serenity
    Step #3: Committed Ourselves To The Path By Practicing The Five Precepts And The Six Paramitas
    Step #4 Came To Believe That All Our Perceptions Are Learned - That They Are Just A Product Of Our Ego-mind - And That Our Ego-mind Is Not Our True Self - Instead We Knew That Our True Self Is Our Heart.
    Step #5: Were Ready And Willing And Made A Decision To Surrender Our Ego And Turn Our Will And Our Lives Over To The Care Of Our True Buddha Nature Opening Our Heart To Embrace All Aspects Of Our Being.
    Step #6: Came To Believe That We Have Everything We Need Within Ourselves To Be At Peace And Happy
    Step #7: Came To Be Free Of Our Cravings
    Step #8: Were Entirely Ready To Love Ourselves Unconditionally And Have Compassion For Ourselves And To Accept Ourselves And The World Around Us As Being The Way They Are Because It's Just The Way It Is.
    Step #9: Made A List Of Persons We Had Harmed And Made Amends To Them
    Stopping Self-Sabotage
    Strength Not Courage
    Suffering Is Universal - But Why?
    Survival - The Force That Controls Our Life
    Taking Pleasure In Each Passing Moment
    Taking Refuge In Yourself
    Taking Responsibility Is Not Blame
    Teaching Only Points The Way
    Test The Wisdom Of What You’re Doing Or Thinking Of Doing
    The 3-legged Stool Of Spirituality
    The Art Of Self-Nurturing
    The Challenge Of Staying Aware
    The Coexistence Of Ego And Buddha Nature
    The Conceit "I Am"
    The Devil Is Alive And Well
    The Distinction Between Pain And Suffering
    The Divine And Man
    The Ego As Saboteur
    The Emptiness Of Intrinsic Existence And Its Relevance To Global Warming
    The Felt Need For Acknowledgment
    The Five Precepts
    The Four Bodhisattva Vows
    The Fourfold Path To Freedom
    The Four Noble Truths
    The Fragility Of Man
    The Freedom Of Focusing On Someone Or Something Outside Yourself
    The Heart/Mind Divide
    The Heart’s Embrace - More On Freeing Ourselves
    The Heart's Embrace - Updated
    The Hurt Of Rejection - Its Enduring Impact
    The Illusion Of Control
    The Imperative Of Self-Preservation
    The Lessons Of Siddhartha
    The Light Within You
    The Limits Of Rational Thought
    The Lord's Role In Your Work
    The Meaning And Power Of Selflessness
    The Middle Way - A Way Back From The Breach
    The Mind And The Wounded Inner Child
    The Mind And Your Inner Child - II
    The Mind Is Sneaky - Surrender It
    The Mind's Deep State
    The Mind - Suffering Connection
    The Miracle That Is You
    The Misleading Teaching Of No Self
    The Missing Noble Truth
    The Myanmar Situation
    The Mystery Of The Ego - An Answer
    The New Me - I Not I
    The Noble Eightfold Path
    The Original Trauma - Birth
    The Parable Of The Raft
    The Path As Tightrope
    The Path From Peace To Joy
    The Path Is Never-Ending
    The Power Of Affirmations - Use Carefully
    The Power Of Giving Voice To Thoughts
    The Power Of Prayer
    The Present Beyond Us
    The Purpose Of Life
    The Purpose Of Meditation
    The Push/Pull Of Ego-Mind
    The Question Is Not Whether The Glass Is Half Empty Or Half Full
    There Are No Bad Persons
    There Is Nothing Wrong With You
    The Remnants Of The Ego
    The Serenity Prayer
    The Serenity Prayer - II
    The Soul’s Yearning And How Best To Fulfill It
    The Source Of Equanimity And Peace
    The Stages Of Acceptance
    The Stages Of Man’s Spirit
    The Subconscious
    The Sun Is Always Shining/ There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather
    The Three Stages Of Embrace
    The Truth – Seeing It And Speaking It
    The Unaware Consumer
    The Wisdom Of Chickens
    The Wisdom Of Now
    This Is Not Me This Is Not My Self
    Thought Objects
    To Free Yourself From Cravings You Must Free Yourself Of Fear
    To Love Unconditionally = Loving-Kindness
    Tonglen - How To Approach Its Practice
    To Observe Free Of Mind - To Experience Joy
    To See Opportunity You Must Be Free Of Fear
    To Thine Own Self Be True
    Trauma
    Trauma Begets Trauma
    Trauma Denied No Longer
    Trauma - Healing It Is Critical
    Trauma - It’s Release
    Turning Your Will Over To Your True Buddha Nature
    Waking Up
    Walking Away From Modernity
    Walking On The Beach
    Walking The Path - It’s A Lot Of Work But It’s Well Worth It
    Wandering Until ?
    Wealth Poverty And Buddhism
    We Are All One
    We Are Not Meant To Suffer
    We Have Everything We Need To Be At Peace And Happy Inside Ourselves
    We Have Lost Our Sense Of Place
    We Make Our Own Mental Environment
    We Never Stop Healing
    What Activates The Ego-Mind?
    What Are We Celebrating On July 4th?
    What Blocks Me From Being Truly Present And Radiating My Inner Energy 24/7?
    What Drives Us Mad?
    What If The Present Is Bad?
    What Is Joy? What Is Happiness?
    What Is Life Without Emotion?
    What Is Most Important To You?
    What Is Your Task In Life?
    What Lies Behind Our Good Deeds?
    What Nourishes My Soul?
    What Price Peace And Happiness?
    What's In A Name?
    What's Real And What’s Not Real?
    What’s The Real Challenge - Life Or The Ego?
    What To Do When You Lose Faith?
    What Use Fame Power Fortune?
    What You Can’t Will And What You Can
    When A Heart’s Desire Is Commandeered By The Ego
    When Joy Is Not Joy
    When Love Is Not Love ...
    When Nothing Offends
    When Really Bad Things Happen
    When Smiling Toddlers Cry
    When The Mind Intervenes
    When Things Are Not The Way We Want Them To Be
    Who Am I?
    Who Are You?
    Who/What Is Your True Self?
    Why Diets Fail - A Buddhist Perspective
    Why Do We Crave?
    Why Is Being Grateful Such A Challenge?
    Why Is It So Hard To Be Free Of Your Ego?
    Why Is Mankind Trapped In A Box?
    Why Point The Compass Towards Tomorrow?
    Why We Take Offense
    Wisdom - What Is It?
    Wounded Our Ego-Mind Becomes The Devil
    Yes Virginia There Is A True Buddha Nature
    Yet Another Past Attachment
    You Are Not Alone
    You As Observer
    You Can Be In Control
    You Cannot Radiate Light If You Are Filled With Fear
    You Don't Need To Be Liked
    Your True Self And The Irrelevance Of The Min
    Your Will Not My Mind's - II
    Your Will Not My Mind's - III

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