‘Pause throughout the day to check in with yourself. Notice when you’re caught up in thought or emotional reactivity. The more you do this, the more intuitive it becomes.’
Everyday Buddhism
Buddhist Insights
Morning meditation — When there is no self.
‘When there is no self there is nothing that is not self.’
Zen master Iida Toin
Morning meditation — Buddha’s description of suffering is not meant to evoke pessimism.
‘Buddha as an experience transcends mere personality; it invites us to embody his enlightened awareness, manifesting wisdom and compassion in our own lives.’
Everyday Buddhism
Morning meditation: This is the other extreme.
‘Everything exists — this is one extreme. Nothing exists — this is the other extreme. Avoiding both, the Tathagata teaches the Middle Way.’
Samyutta Nikaya
Morning meditation — How can plum blossom be fragrant?
‘If intense cold strikes not to the bone, how can plum blossom be fragrant?’
Huang Po
Morning meditation — This Middle Way forms the bedrock of the Buddha’s teaching.
‘This Middle Way forms the bedrock of the Buddha’s teaching, urging us to live in harmony with the world, avoiding excess and deprivation alike. It is a path of moderation, rooted in insight, and leads to the cessation of suffering.’
Everyday Buddhism
Morning meditation — Did you see the morning star this morning?
‘In the Zen tradition the Buddha realised awakening after seeing the morning star.
Did you see the morning star this morning?
Not to worry it shines everyday.’
Zen
Morning meditation — At the heart of the Buddha’s message is the teaching of the Middle Way.
‘At the heart of the Buddha’s message is the teaching of the Middle Way—a path that avoids the extremes of indulgence in sensual pleasures on one side and severe asceticism on the other. Before his enlightenment, the Buddha had experienced both ends of this spectrum.’
Everyday Buddhism
