Everything is in flux. One of the most fundamental insights of spiritual practice is that despite all the safeguards civilization provides, the feelings of security we achieve through work, relationships and family, etc, we remain inherently vulnerable to abrupt loss and change. Everything is in flux: the world, people in our lives, moods and thoughts […]
An Overview of the Journey Read More »
Its a common practice to rely on certain phrases as self-motivating, activating mantras; mottos to get us going, to hurry us along, put a move on it, pick up the pace, set stuff in motion and focus our attention. These inner incitements come in many forms, but they all have the same, underlying message: We’re
It’s taught that the Buddha managed to live 28 years before encountering old age, sickness and death. Today, such a remove from distressing events is all but impossible to imagine. Unsettling images are found everywhere; tucked among a stream of wedding and birth announcements, travel photographs, and restaurant reviews that unwind on social media; or
Shelf Life of the Shrink-Wrapped Heart Read More »
In the latest podcast from Dharma Punx NYC, Josh Korda, Buddhist teacher and lifelong activist, shares practical approaches for staying sane while politically engaged. In the 2,500 year old tradition I teach entirely by dana: scraping by entirely on the generous donations of those who listen and get something from the teaching. Please check out
Staying Sane in a Sh*t Show Read More »
It is both human nature and culturally instilled behavior to seek lasting security, happiness and transcendent meaning amidst the roller coaster ride of fleeting conditions: sexy pleasures followed by gastric discomforts, financial gains followed by losses, approval one day, criticism the next; our 15 minutes of fame giving way to insignificance. Just as the youth
The True Goal of the Spiritual Journey Read More »
The following is my adaptation* of the Buddha’s Vitakkasanthana Sutta, roughly “How to Remove Unwanted and Obsessive Thoughts.” There are many wonderful translations available via numerous resources (see my note at bottom), so I urge those interested in learning more about this practice to review other versions. I’ve focused on creating a version that is
How to Remove Unwanted and Obsessive Thoughts Read More »
From earliest infancy and continuing throughout life, humans seek secure relationships with others that will provide enough security to allow us to explore the world around us without feeling alone and vulnerable. Supported by others, we don’t fall back on fight-flight-or-freeze programming, nor allow basic survival concerns, such as finding the next meal, to dominate
Finding Authentic Meaning for Life Read More »