All Experiences are Side Effects
Even with a teacher, there are three principles to keep in mind in working with these unfamiliar realms of our spiritual life. The first principle is...
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The Unique Expression of True Self
In awakening our Buddha nature, we find that there is one further aspect of self to understand, the need to honor our personal destiny. This...
Inquiry and Observation
Wisdom grows out of our clear seeing in each moment. Seeing the arising and passing of our experience and how we relate to it. It...
Judging Another
One evening, the Buddha arose from his meditation and was seated outside the eastern gate of the park where he was staying. Then, King Pasenadi,...
Harmlessness
All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?...
Happiness of Being
Japan’s most beloved Zen poet, Ryokan, was known for being unpretentious and wise. Like Saint Francis he was a lover of simple things, of children...
The Road to Hell and Deluded Intention
We’ve all heard the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” What if our good intentions foolishly ruin a relationship or hurt...
The Nature of Hate
Hatred and aversion are all states of mind that strike against experience, pushing it away, rejecting what is presented in the moment. They do not...
The Fruit of Letting Go
As we let go and still see others suffer, the heart fills with compassion. So much suffering is human-caused. We awaken to a poignancy and...
Vulnerability and the Tender Heart
Several years ago some friends arranged for the Gyuto Tantric Choir, the Tibetan monks famous for their deep multivocal chanting, to perform in San Quentin...
Suffering & Grace
“In a world of tension and breakdown it is necessary for there to be those who seek to integrate their inner lives not by avoiding...
Confusing Charisma with Wisdom
Another source of spiritual misunderstanding is our confusion of charisma with true wisdom. Certain spiritual leaders possess the ability to evoke extraordinary states. Amplified by our...
