The Matrix movie, Mind, and Meditation What do they have in common? Do you remember the Matrix movies? In the first movie, Morpheus is asking Neo to choose between the red pill and the blue pill. The red one is the metaphor for awakening and experiencing the factual realities of the world of the […]
MINI Using non-dominant hand This talk is part of a series called practicing “Mindfulness on the go” Use your non-dominant hand in a mindful way for some ordinary tasks each day. These could include brushing your teeth, combing your hair, or eating at least part of your meal. If you are up for a big […]
The art of letting go Letting go, (or some may refer to it as non-attachment) means to allow a release, to relinquish ones grip on, or, to refrain from clinging and grasping. Often we attach or cling to what we like, but on the other side of the coin, letting go also refers to letting go […]
Our mind is always in a permanent state of starving for something from “not having enough,” always greedy for more food such as thoughts, and feelings to think about, and even having the body doing something. Therefore, if you are controlled by your mind most of the time, you can get bored and restless very […]
Anger management using mindfulness meditation You’ve been hijacked by anger. Whether anger rises abruptly in a fiery explosion or burns slowly over time, it can effectively take over. Employing mindfulness can help you in managing angry feelings and protect you (and others) from their most damaging effects. Acute or chronic anger is a complex […]
Bahiya and The Cosmic Joke This story comes from the Buddhist Suttas. Bahiya of the Bark-cloth was a wondering renunciate and arguably the Buddha's best student. One day Bahiya comes to wonder about himself, “Am I awakened? Am I an enlightened being?” So Bahiya asks a passing God—a Deva, “Am I awakened?” The Deva […]
How to practice ”Metta” or Lovingkindness Metta regroups loving-kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. In our Western culture, it is impossible to practice Metta to ourselves. We feel that we are unworthy, that it’s egotistical, narcissistic, and alien. The following is the actual teaching by the Buddha himself regarding Metta. "One of the beautiful principles of […]
Hope: how to practice hope the Zen way When your mind is wandering in the future ~ 70% of the time, hope becomes its default mode. We are expecting positive outcomes for ourselves, people, and events all the time, and it is okay. Dostoyevsky said, “There is no life without hope” Maybe. However, hope […]
Let me try to explain this metaphor: From the bottom up: The cup of the lamp is our material body. The oil is our restless mind. The wick is our ego. The flame is the end result of the ego. How does it work? Our non-stop thinking […]
Purpose of the Dharma talk and the student’s role “A Dharma talk is a lecture on a Buddhist topic to provide inspiration for integrating the Buddha’s teachings in daily life.” ( i.e. inspirational vs intellectual). The Buddha said I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the release from suffering; and yet he […]
