But rather as a set of propositions for each individual to investigate for him- or herself.
The crucial thing is to be mindful of what is occurring, not to control what is occurring.
Meditation changes your character by a process of sensitization, by making you deeply aware of your own thoughts, words, and deeds.
If you learn nothing else from meditation, you will learn patience.
Herewe see how even a small degree of desire for permanency in an impermanent situationcauses pain or unhappiness. Since there is no self-entity to control this situation, we willbecome more disappoin...
Buddhist psychology has developed a distinct system of classification. Rather than dividing thoughts into classes like good and bad, Buddhist thinkers prefer to regard them as skillful versus unskillf...
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. You may not be perfect, but you are all you’ve got to work with.
When you begin the jhana meditation practice, you avoid anything not conducive to gaining concentration. On the cushion, you avoid the hindrances, the reactions that would pull you away from your medi...
There is no clinging to the pleasant, no fleeing from the unpleasant. Mindfulness treats all experiences equally, all thoughts equally, all feelings equally. Nothing is suppressed. Nothing
The purpose of meditation is personal transformation. The you that goes in one side of the meditation experience is not the same you that comes out the other side.
Never mind what I have been taught. Forget about theories and prejudices and stereotypes. I want to understand the true nature of life.
Meditation deals with levels of consciousness that lie deeper than conceptual thought. Therefore, some of the experiences of meditation just won’t fit into words.
Is this task or behavior really necessary or is it just a way to be busy?
If youfind your mind extremely active, then simply observe the nature and degree of thatactivity. It is just a part of the passing show within.
Concentration should be regarded as a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for good or for ill. A sharp knife can be used to create a beautiful carving or to harm someone. It is all up to the one who u...
Below the threshold of conscious awareness, ignorance infiltrates our perceptions, and from there spreads to our thoughts and views, resulting in distorted modes of understanding
You can learn to perceive your life as an ever-flowing movement. You can learn to see the continuous flow of all conditioned
You are who you are, and lying to yourself about your own weaknesses and motivations only binds you tighter to them.
When you first begin this procedure, expect to face some difficulties. Your mind will wander off constantly, darting around like a bumblebee and zooming off on wild tangents. Try not to worry. The mon...
We inhale and experience pleasure and then tension. We exhale and experience release but also anxiety. But even this pattern has much to teach us. When we experience tension, we remind ourselves not t...