Self Reflection

We need to recognize the source of our problems and the source of all our perceived threats. We must try to see how they arise from our “self,” and more specifically from our grasping to the self. When we have the feeling of being sucked into a situation, when we feel emotionally drained, or when

I’d like to address the theme of renunciation. This word, this idea of “renunciation,” as it is meant in the Buddhist teachings and particularly in the Hinayana teachings, provokes wildly different reactions among people. People will respond differently to this word depending upon where they are in their lives, their levels of suffering, and with

Cultivating the kind of detached awareness that I’ve mentioned allows us to develop a maturity regarding our emotional reactions. We gain a perspective that is balanced, not viewing the emotions as “black and white”, so we find that we no longer feel a need to react aggressively or judge our own behavior. Instead of suppressing

As Shantideva says in the The Way of the Bodhisattva, when someone goes to war they study their opponent. This is how we have to study our disturbing emotions (Sanskrit: kleshas). These “poisons” are in certain ways nothing but our own reactions. When you can regard them from a mature viewpoint, with a developed awareness

It is very important to recognize that the reactions we feel are not necessarily who we are. These reactions that seem part of us, how we react, are very much about who we were as beings in the past. Whether we’re speaking of our physical actions, our speech, or the activity of our mind, especially

Recalling what we covered previously, choosing faith is the first remedy that gives us strength in difficult situations. This, in turn, brings about the possibility of surrendering as the second remedy. The third and final remedy which I’d like to explain is the genuine and sincere acknowledgement that these two are indeed truly important strengths,

Last week we spoke about choosing faith as a remedy for the ordeal of a shaky mind. To deliberately choose to have faith in the goodness of people and the world, along with the Three Jewels, will warm the heart that has descended into fearful iciness. This choice of faith will remove the “super anxiety”

Lately, I’ve heard a lot about people who possess kind natures and good qualities, yet who are haunted by feelings that shake them deeply from within. As one of my friends puts it, she feels shaky inside “at the very depth of her core.” So I would like to speak about how to relate to

What is honesty? Honesty is the quality of someone who is not afraid to look at himself or herself deeply and to look closely at situations without any personal investment. Honesty is a mental characteristic that some people cherish, but which others regard as a burden. In the everyday world of shallow exchanges, honesty is

As human beings we have emotions. Obviously, we can’t live our life without emotions.  We enjoy them! We ought to keep emotions in our diet. But if we do not have a way to limit our unhealthy emotions, they can take over our whole mental state.  We can’t just throw away our unhealthy emotions suddenly,