Practice: Visualization
To work with a sacred image, choose someone who inspires you, St. Francis or Kwan Yin the goddess of infinite mercy, Jesus or Mary, Buddha...
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The Storytelling Mind (Part Two)
(Read Part One of The Storytelling Mind) When we look at the constant and repetitive process of our own thinking, we see how habitually it...
The Storytelling Mind
When I first took robes and entered the monastic community of Ajahn Chah, I had already been practicing meditation for two years. Now, sitting...
Practice: Counting Thoughts
“With the mind, observe the mind.” – Buddha This first simple practice gives an immediate experience of mindfulness of thought. Sit comfortably and quietly. After...
Disentangling from the Story
It is a great relief to discover that our stories do not fully define who we are, or what is happening to us. One practitioner...
Heart Wisdom – Ep. 18 – Redemption
Ancient Buddhist tales of redemption are recounted to encourage our understanding that it is never too late to start anew. The object of meditation is...
Establishing a Daily Meditation
First select a suitable place for your regular meditation. Place a meditation cushion or chair there for your use, and add any books or images...
How to Begin Naming
Begin by sitting comfortably, focusing awareness on your breathing. As you feel each breath, carefully acknowledge it with a simple name: “in-breath, out-breath,” saying the...
Purification: The Gateway to Higher States
Learning to concentrate, though initially difficult, works. Gradually, through repeated focus on our subject over hours and days, the mind’s wandering diminishes. It settles down...
Discover What Is Asking for Acceptance
Discover what is asking for acceptance… This may sound like a very complicated and busy way to meditate, but in practice it is very simple....
The Entry to Expanded Consciousness: Access Concentration
The gateway to both the Realms of Absorption and the Realms of Dissolution is a stabilization of heart and mind called access concentration. Access concentration...
Heart Wisdom – Ep. 13 – Joy and Its Causes
Mudita is the joy and happiness experienced for oneself and others. This joy is born into everyone, but is not limited to the innocence afforded...
