Changing Thoughts Through Observation and Training

 When our minds are still, we can enjoy the ending of the friction created by thinking.  During this deep meditation, we can then observe the pattern of our thoughts rather than following them.  Observing our mind in this formal way gives us the opportunity to drop...

The Vital Role of Tranquility in Awakening

If allowed to settle into stillness, even the most turbulent body of water becomes clear. Developing this kind of tranquility in our mind provides clarity and supports the work of deepening our meditation practice. Lovingly examining the state of our mind during the...

What Mindfulness Is and Is Not

Mindfulness is the topic of many articles and research which point to the benefits of meditation and mindfulness.  However, mindfulness taken out of the context of Buddhism and the Eightfold Path leads to misunderstanding, sometimes dangerous practices, and...

Limited Self vs. Vast Self and the role of Jhāna

One reason we suffer is that we cling to an idea of a self. In Buddhism, the self is understood to be something we construct. Through meditation, we can go into a silence that helps us recognize the small mind as well as train in developing a vast mind. With training,...