Recently someone new to Buddhism asked the question of how to pick a good teacher. I found this to be a very powerful question, and one that I would not want to answer frivolously. Also, I can see clearly that…
How to pick a good teacher
Tag: Bhikkhuni
A day without stories
A couple of years ago I attended a dhamma talk by the Bhikkhuni Venerable Madika. And one of the things she talked about the really left a lasting impression on me was how she spoke about dropping the stories we…
Interview with a Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni (Pāli) or bhikṣuṇī (Sanskrit) is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. I was recently granted the privilege of some time with dear Bhikkhuni Vimala, of the Blue Lotus Temple, for a brief but insightful interview. As always, her…
You need a time out
How’s your mind today, where is it at? Do you find yourself flowing from happy to sad thoughts and emotions? I know that most of us would like to be in a constant state of joy and happiness, but this…
What’s my label?
Am I the tall guy, am I David, am I Mr. Schmidt, am I Dad, am I Grandpa, or am I Nissarana? How do you define me, and which label is correct? Is one correct and the others false, or…