Category Archives: Desire

The island of coolness

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 [...]
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Finding equanimity and joy in giving, receiving, and letting go

Last night, during my weekly formal meditation practice with Portland Friends of the Dhamma, I took part in a revealing exercise in acceptance of the way things are. Next week Ajahn Thanissaro, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in Southern California, will be teaching at Friends of the Dhamma. His topic will be on the importance of [...]
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Restlessness and remorse and the karma of lives past and present

Together, restlessness and remorse are the fourth of the five hindrances to meditation as well as to leading a happy life. Restlessness is a general sense of dissatisfaction with how things are. Feelings of restlessness can be very subtle or very intense. The result is a need to move, to do something. Remorse is a [...]
Also posted in Buddhism, Change, Delusion, Dukkha, Impermanence | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dirty fighting in the home of the brave

When I was a little boy, my mother talked to me about fighting. She knew that sometimes boys got into fights. What she told me more than once was, “Don’t fight dirty.” In addition she would say, “No hitting below the belt.” In other words, it was wrong to kick someone in the crotch for [...]
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