Category Archives: Delusion

Good Shepherd, Bad Shepherd*

By Paul | Published: February 27, 2010
People are like sheep. Isn’t that why we have the Christian metaphor of the Good Shepherd? Someone who will tell us right from wrong, who will keep us safe from harm, who will tuck us snugly in the warm blankets of heaven on that last and most frightening darkest night of the soul? Not all people are [...]
Also posted in Buddhism, Truth, politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Discernment along the Middle Way

By Paul | Published: January 15, 2010
My last post asking “What is Enlightenment?” drew some good comments and questions, and I respond to them here, in a rambling sort of way, beginning with a story about soap. Many years ago Robin worked for Colgate-Palmolive. She worked in the quality-control department at a plant where they made, among other things, Fresh Start [...]
Also posted in Buddhism, Change, Dhamma, Dukkha, Nibbana, Truth | 2 Comments

What is enlightenment?

By Paul | Published: January 5, 2010
It’s not an original question. Immanuel Kant asked “What is enlightenment?” in an essay published in 1784. I don’t think Kant had Buddhism in mind, but still, it’s a question worth considering. In a previous post I wrote about The Island: An Anthology of the Buddha’s Teachings on Nibbana, by Ajanhs Pasanno and Amaro. Nibbana/nirvana is [...]
Also posted in Buddhism, Dhamma, Eightfold Path, Four Noble Truths, Nibbana, Practice, The Buddha | 4 Comments

The island of coolness

By Paul | Published: December 28, 2009
The Island: An Anthology of the Buddha’s Teachings on Nibbana is a hefty collection of extracts from the Pali Canon, Mahayana texts, and other Buddhist writings compiled and commented on by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. The two Theravada monks are co-abbots of Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California. Ajahn Amaro handles the first part [...]
Also posted in Belief, Buddhism, Desire, Dukkha, Nibbana, Suffering, The Buddha, wisdom | Leave a comment