The present moment is changing so fast that we often do not notice its existence at all. Every moment of mind is like a series of pictures passing through a projector. Some of the pictures come from s...
And do not condemn yourself for having been distracted. Distractions are natural. They come and they go.
Always remember: becoming mindful of losing our mindfulness is mindfulness.
We try mentally to grab onto it or push it away. That sets the worry response in motion.
Sizable number of students seems to feel that a person should be completely moral before beginning to meditate. It is an unworkable strategy. Morality requires a certain degree of mental control as a...
Building concentration is primarily a matter of removing certain mental factors that hinder its application.
When we focus on the breath, we become mindful of the universal nature of all beings.
Somewhere in this process, you will come face to face with the sudden and shocking realization that you are completely crazy.
Generally, the last hindrance to leave the mind is hatred. When it is gone, metta arises naturally. The void is filled with feelings of friendliness toward everyone. When you no longer push things awa...
Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between people, but dwelling upon them is a dangerous process.
Your body is a tool for creating desired mental states. Use it judiciously.
The second type, the Dhamma-follower or Wisdom-follower, is a person whose primary vehicle on the path is a deep understanding of the Dhamma. He uses the intellect extensively. His reason leads him to...
The meaning of faith here is closer to confidence. It is knowing that something is true because you have seen it work, because you have observed that very thing within yourself. In the same way, moral...
Our human perceptual habits are remarkably stupid in some ways. We tune out 99 percent of all the sensory stimuli we actually receive, and we solidify the remainder into discrete mental objects. Then...
Meditation on the breath is not a breathing exercise. We are simply using the breath as a point of focus to cultivate mindfulness.
Advanced meditators are generally found to be pretty jovial people. They possess one of the most valuable of all human treasures, a sense of humor.
A state of mindfulness is a state of mental readiness. The mind is not burdened with preoccupations or bound in worries. Whatever comes up can be dealt with instantly. When you are truly mindful, your...
Come four more stages that have almost nothing whatever
Concentration and relaxation are considered necessary concomitants to awareness. They are required precursors, handy tools, and beneficial byproducts. But they are not the goal. The goal is insight. V...
Comparisons, if any, lead to feelings of kinship rather than of estrangement. Breathing