What is enlightenment? This is often the first question people ask when they begin to explore Buddhism, because enlightenment is the culmination of the entire Buddhist path. Of his own enlightenment, the Buddha said, “Ignorance was destroyed; knowledge arose; darkness...

‘Dharma — In the eye, it is called seeing. In the ear, hearing. In the nose, smelling; in the mouth, tasting. In the feet, walking.’ Zen Master Rinzai

‘One of the greatest challenges in spiritual practice is to go beyond the need for names and descriptions, for these are the tools of thought, not of awareness.’ Everyday Buddhism

‘Those who are able to realise the Truth within their own mind have sown the seed of Buddhahood.’ Hui Neng

‘Within not-self, there is no duality; this is the meaning of not-self.’ Dao Sheng

‘The Buddha emphasised this point throughout his teachings: "Do not associate with bad friends, do not associate with the worst of people. Associate with good friends, associate with the best of people."’ The Dhammapada

‘The timeless present is not merely a moment in time, but a quality of awareness that transcends time itself. It is the realisation that the moment is, in fact, the only reality we directly experience.’ Everyday Buddhism

The sun rises, the moon sets—when will it ever be fully understood?

“Tell me the landscape in which you live, and I will tell you who you are.” —José Ortega y Gasset Growing a garden is an act of love and hope. A garden cannot be planted without them. They are as essential as soil, air, and water for the garden to grow. My love for...

Anna Douglas, one of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s founding teachers and the founder of Insight Meditation Tucson, died Wednesday, March 12, 2025 following “a steady decline, mostly due to advanced Parkinson’s.” She was 85. Douglas taught classes and retreats in the...