“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.” When we awake from a dream, our dear friend in the dream vanishes. Reality is like that. […]
The wisdom side of the path is so counter-intuitive that it often seems opaque and unintelligible. The more merit we accumulate, the more the barriers to understanding wisdom start to come down. As the barriers […]
Too often we get swept away into the future, or dragged back into the past. We miss out being present. It is in the present that we find balance, that we find our center. In […]
Compassion is often misunderstood. This is partly because we do not have an equivalent word in English that gives the full meaning of ‘nyingje’ or ‘karuṇā’. It includes enlightened wisdom to eliminate the deepest level […]
Compassion is often misunderstood. Partly because we do not have a good word in English that gives the full meaning of ‘nyingje’ or ‘karuṇā’. Not only is this general compassion, it includes enlightened wisdom. There […]
Forgiving takes a heavy load off our chest. We feel light as a feather. Practicing gratitude opens the heart. We feel that everything sparkles. Countering anger with tolerance brings ease and understanding. We feel relaxed. […]
Compassion is an often-used word, but rarely understood. According to the Buddha, compassion is the relief of suffering. So, what is suffering? Buddha used the word ‘dukkha.’ We do not have an English equivalent, so […]
Experience of our days is up and down. This is on the outside and superficial. As we practice more, an inner experience begins to permeate our whole experience, our whole being. At first it waxes […]
A square peg doesn’t fit in a round hole. So don’t push it. A round peg doesn’t fit in a square hole. So don’t push it. These are learning situations I often have to relearn. […]
Living in the world, but not part of the world is the best way to serve others. A Bodhisattva strives to help all others. In order to help, we must know their thoughts, feelings, intentions, […]
Human Values Institute