Now the Buddha was a sage who tried to convey a particular teaching that would encourage the realization of ultimate reality. And the teaching of the Buddha sometimes baffles modern humanity because it does seem somewhat strange to our way of thinking; we are used to regarding religion from the point of view of being told something. A sage, or philosopher, or some prophet tells us something, and we either agree with it or not…
‘I suppose very few of us have passed through even a short period of existence without having noticed the different qualities of dreams. There are those that are evanescent; then there are those that possess you and you can’t shake off; and yet others that may be the urge of your life—its guiding star. Nor can the most superficial fail to observe how dreams and life react on one another.’
We fall sometimes, in old habits; we slide back; we regress and start yelling or nourishing self-aversion, but if we keep practising, we wake up again and find that we don’t really want to continue with those old habits. It’s an organic process…
There is this one way for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrows and griefs, for the going down of sufferings and miseries, for winning the right path, for realizing nibbana, that is to say, the four applications of mindfulness. The Buddha
The English isn’t exactly right, but we know what he means. It is with great respect that we publish his Baby English Teisho here. If it is read with this in mind, we’re sure you will agree, it is a magnificent dharma thrust.
Deep, deep, deep, great smile; That’s the roots. Why?
Eternal, perfect and bright; Eternal, perfect safety; Eternal, perfect peace; Everything eternal,
Now, here, now, here; Now, here—no change!
All people hope, desire, Desire, desire,
Desire perfect peace; Perfect enough, myself; Always, yes!
Short film (50mins.) by Mahesi Caplan, an ex monk from the Buddhist Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah. Topics covered: Equanimity, Anger, Meditation, Religion, Belief and Faith, Trauma etc.
In one sense, human history feels like a history of ownership. It seems like people have endless fought to have more for themselves. Greed has no limits and no holidays. It surges with the desire to possess even one more thing…
The goal of Buddhist meditation is to see things as they are; it is a state of awakened attention. This is a very simple thing to do; it isn’t complicated or difficult or something that takes years to achieve. It is so easy that you don’t even notice it…
Buddhism now 