Fool’s Gold in Religion
Seeing should not always be believing “All that glitters is not gold” is especially true in the realm of religion. I can never hear that adage without remembering a walk I once took with the Russian Orthodox (OCA) Archbishop of Chicago. We were just wandering … Continue reading
Buddha’s Words About Attention
“Attention leads to immortality. Carelessness leads to death. Those who pay attention will not die, while the careless are as good as dead already” (Dhammapada 21). “Attention”–appamada in Pali–literally means “non-infatuation,” but is usually interpreted as the result of such freedom from infatuation. Narada Thera … Continue reading
The Religion of Ignorance
What Jesus said to his disciples about those who propagate ignorance, from the Gospel of Thomas Jesus said, The pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of knowledge [gnosis] and hidden them. They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed to enter those … Continue reading
The Safe Path of Yoga
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna continues to amaze us. After speaking of Psychological Yoga, he states: “Here [in this yoga] no effort is lost, nor is any loss of progress found. Even a little of this discipline [dharma] protects one from great danger” (2:40). All … Continue reading
“The Holy Life” as Defined by Buddha
“Even if he does not quote appropriate texts much, if he follows the principles of the Teaching by getting rid of greed, hatred and delusion, deep of insight and with a mind free from attachment, not clinging to anything in this world or the next–that … Continue reading
The Unholy Trinity of Yoga
Two of the most important words in analyzing the dilemma of the human condition are Raga and Dwesha–the powerful duo that motivate virtually all human endeavor. Buddha, in common with all philosophers of India, continually refers to them, so an understanding of their import is … Continue reading