Archived Posts
Uncertainty – August 14, 2012 Meditation
Uncertainty The philosopher Miguel de Unamuno is purported to have commented that people who believe in God but who do so without anguish, uncertainty, or doubt, actually only believe in the idea of God and not God himself.
Prayer vs. Meditation – August 16, 2012 Meditation
Prayer vs. Meditation “Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” So goes the line in the story of Snow White. No matter how often or no matter how vigorously the queen beseeched the mirror to tell her she was the fairest the mirror never did. The property of mirrors, if we…
Burnout – April 14, 2012 Meditation
Burnout Over the past several days I have written a lot about the idea of quitting one’s practice. Here at the temple I see a lot of folks come through the door. Of course some do so only as a class assignment, others are simply curious with no real interest in actually practicing. There are…
Five Implements of Skillful Means for Entry to the Dharma
Zeal, Vigor, Mindfulness, Discernment, Single-Mindedness These Five Implements were presented by Chih-i in his “Essentials for Practicing Calming and Insight and Dhyana Meditation” Zeal – First a person much possess the desire, the willingness to change something. Without this aspiring to change there is no initial cause for implementation. Vigor – Next a person must approach the task with effort, and a willingness to accomplish the task without letting up. Not being afraid to challenge…