Cultivation and Attention in Spiritual Life
Attention cannot be produced immediately, it requires constant and vigilant cultivation, meditation being the prime implement of such cultivation. For “those who pay attention will not die, while the careless are as good as dead already.” [see the previous Dhammapada post] Keeping this perspective in … 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 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
The Wrong Way to Be Thoughtless
“Even if he is fond of quoting appropriate texts, the thoughtless man who does not put them into practice himself is like a cowherd counting other people’s cows, not a partner in the Holy Life” (Buddha’s words from the Dhammapada 19). The problem with the … Continue reading
Our Outer Life as a Reflection of Our Inner Life
A continuing commentary on the teachings of the Buddha “Here and beyond he is punished. The wrong-doer is punished both ways. He is punished by the thought, ‘I have done evil,’ and is even more punished when he comes to a bad state. Here and … Continue reading
Sitting Like the Buddha
When Gotama Buddha sat beneath the bodhi tree he vowed that until he was enlightened he would not get up even if his flesh and bones were to be dissolved. This is why it is said that Buddha got enlightenment because he knew how to … Continue reading