‘Just as the self does absolutely not exist, and cannot be apprehended, so also the Buddha. As the self cannot be expressed by any dharma, so also the Buddha.’ Prajnaparamita
Spirituality
Morning meditation — Rather than identifying with every passing thought or feeling.
‘Rather than identifying with every passing thought or feeling, we can step back and witness them as transient phenomena. This practice brings a sense of inner freedom, as we no longer feel compelled to chase after each mental impression.’ Everyday Buddhism
Morning meditation — Buddha is not something to be attained but.
‘Buddha is not something to be attained but something to be realised in the very fabric of our daily lives.’ Everyday Buddhism
Morning meditation — One of the reasons we may feel that insight is elusive.
‘One of the reasons we may feel that insight is elusive is that we often expect it to be something dramatic or transformative — a sudden, overwhelming revelation that changes everything. But true insight is often more subtle than that.’ Everyday Buddhism
Morning meditation — In this very fathom-long body.
‘In this very fathom-long body, along with its perception and mind, I declare the world, the origin of the world, the cessation of the world, and the path leading to the cessation of the world.’ The Buddha
Books in Brief: January 2025
In the modern world, so many of us live indoors, on screens—strangers to our own bodies and sense experience—and this leaves us uneasy. We’re homesick, for a deep sense of place and belonging, so we try to fill the void the only way we know how: with rational thought....
How to Practice Mindful Breathing for Anxiety
When I was twelve years old, I experienced a near drowning at a public swimming pool. I’d been to the pool many times, but since I’d never had swimming lessons, I always stayed in the shallow end. One bright and sunny day, my best friend convinced me that he could...
How to Practice RAIN Meditation for Anxiety
In our modern world, where stress and anxiety often feel like constant companions, RAIN meditation stands out as a simple yet powerful tool for cultivating emotional resilience. Developed by Michele McDonald and popularized by Tara Brach, RAIN is an acronym...
Where the Path Leads
Years ago, my daughter heard that remote Pollet’s Cove, Nova Scotia, was the summertime home of a herd of semi-wild horses, and she’s dreamt ever since of paying them a visit. This year, with her about to launch into high school and a new chapter of independence, I...
Everything Is Our Teacher, Even Death
One day I was walking in a meadow and saw a great blue heron just about thirty feet away. It suddenly poked its head down into the grass and came up with a large snake with at least three feet of its body still dangling from the heron’s mouth. The snake’s body was...