The Root of All Evil

Many people think that money is the root of all evil, but the Buddha teaches something totally different in the Mula (or Root) Sutta (Sutra). In this sutra, the Buddha asks, “In what are all phenomena rooted?” and, as in all sutras, he answers his own question. Thanissara (Mary Weinberg), a former nun in the […]

Faith in Buddhism

The idea of faith in Buddhism was very confusing for me until I realized that it was faith in my own ability to awaken. This is the faith that we all have inherent Buddha nature (bodhicitta) – the compassion for ourselves and other beings to live in happiness and avoid suffering. The Buddha, himself, never […]

Why Stress is Good for You

As you well know if you have been following Meditation Practices for a while, I am a big fan of Kelly McGonigal and her wonderful work at the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University. Her new book, The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to […]

The Importance of a Spiritual Friend

In these lovely words of wisdom, Thanissaro Bhikkhu talks about the importance of a spiritual friend. He is one of my favorite Buddhist teachers, authors and scholars from the west. He is also the abbot of Metta Forest Monastery, outside of San Diego. Whenever he has an article in Tricycle, Shambhala Sun, or Buddhadharma, I […]

Cultivating the Mind Brings True Happiness

These words of wisdom from Tricycle Daily Dharma were originally taught by the Buddha, himself. We are taught that only cultivating the mind brings true happiness. What does it  mean to cultivate the mind? It means to bring the mind into a calm abiding state through the practice of mindful meditation. It means that we […]

The Buddha Never Said

The Buddha never said, “There is no self.” When I first read this in Tricycle Magazine, I was as surprised as anyone. Yet, when I thought about it, I considered what Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches. He puts it like this: There is no such thing as permanent and separate. There’s nothing that can […]

The Ultimate Bliss

These words of wisdom from Tricycle.com were translated from the Muccalinda Sutta, Ud 2.1., by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Tricycle Daily Dharma December 2, 2013 The Ultimate Bliss Blissful is solitude for one who’s content, who has heard the Dhamma, who sees. Blissful is non-affliction with regard for the world, restraint for living beings. Blissful is dispassion with […]

Meditation Practices Lead to Mindful Consumption

When I first heard Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh speak about how meditation practices lead to mindful consumption, I made a commitment to engage in this practice. He said, “If the West stops drinking alcohol by 50%, there would be enough food to feed the world.” This really got to me and I have not […]