Developing Good Heart

As human beings we share in common our universal tender heart. Every move and response we make comes from our tender heart. This responsiveness has no beginning nor end; it is ongoing, from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep. For short periods of time, when we are deep asleep,

There’s no doubt that each of us wants to be happy; but happiness doesn’t come on demand. Not many people actually believe that “happiness is freedom from the suffering that our mind creates.” Even though we may want it, we won’t get this kind of happiness or peace on demand, by willing it or trying

In the last few years in the Middle East, hundreds of thousands of people have died, been injured, lost loved ones, and lost homes and livelihoods. Even if all American objectives were attained at a minimal cost, America will still have to suffer the repercussions of having increased the number of its enemies. And there

I would like to begin by first saying a few things about bodhicitta practice, the practice of developing a good heart. Bodhicitta is the practice of all buddhas of the past, the present, and the future, and it has two aspects. The first aspect, aspiration bodhicitta, is defined as a genuine wish to cultivate enlightenment

When you hit the bottom of all your resources of trying to apply so many kinds of remedies to the pain, and all of them have failed, then there comes a sense of fearlessness. A fearlessness to directly engage with the pain in a very naked way. A courage to experience the pain as it

We must ask ourselves, “What is my weakness?” If it is attachment, then admit, “Yes, it’s attachment,” without defending that. If it’s aggression, then, yes, it’s aggression, and not defending one’s aggression. If it’s jealousy, then, yes, it’s jealousy, again not defending one’s jealousy. If it’s stupidity, yes, it’s stupidity without coming to the defense

When you say “Oh, I really don’t think this person would do something that negative; I trust this person,” what are you saying? Are you saying this person will always have just one particular stream of feelings and never change those feelings whatsoever? No. If that person had one stream of feelings all the time,

Everyone knows how important it is to establish a good heart. A good heart is the only thing that is truly worthy, not only of helping others, but also of sustaining oneself in a state of happiness, joy and contentment. Yet it often seems there is a conflict inwardly. Though people know the value of

As we discussed in Part 1, our present culture is sometimes referred to as the “degenerate age.” But, this does not refer to a condemnation of beings or of modern society. Rather it describes a pervasive suffering within society that occurs when there is a loss of noble values. We can observe this in our