What kind of standards do we hold one another up to? With a huge part of our practice being about acceptance and patience, one would think that we should have no standards with which we hold others accountable. But let’s…
Standards and practices
Tag: equanimity
War, what is it good for?
War seems to be on everyone’s lips lately with all of the violence that’s happening in Syria. The thing I find fascinating is how the media can focus all of our attention on whatever hot topic they choose. I would…
In honor of my teacher
First and foremost I should make it clear that my teacher is the Buddha. And while the dhamma is a living and breathing guide for each of us, the Buddha himself is of course dead. But many years ago I…
A soldier in Buddha’s army
Yes, we are indeed at war, and the Buddha has amassed an army of millions that spans the globe. And the way that I see it, like any army, there is a need for leaders. The monks and nuns are…
Buddhism by the numbers
The four divine abodes (brahma-viharas in Pali) are the Buddha’s foundational teachings – the ones that connect most directly with our intention of liberation. Referred to as divine because they encompass immaculate and Godlike qualities. Metta: loving-Kindness, goodwill Karuna: compassion…