Breathing properly to anchor our mind: the why and the How Understanding the “WHY” will help you to maximize the “How” The basic purpose of Zen is to achieve and maintain serenity that is a steady emotional balance. It can be achieved only in taming, and better in controlling our non-stop cognitive and emotional mind. […]
Non-acceptance Last week we talk about attachment as a potential source of suffering. This week, we are swinging to the opposite side of attachment that is non-acceptance, which also may induce suffering. Suffering and non-acceptance are the opposite sides of the same coin called the emotional mind. Attachment is desire whereas non-acceptance is disliked. Try […]
Example of questions about Zen from students Here are a few core questions asked by students that I dealt with over the years. This list is not exhaustive and is not in any specific order. Pick a few of them or have your own ones then write them down. Remember: There is no stupid question, […]
Attachments And attachment is a bond that is created between the Self and its image with something /somebody else. They can be material, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. As soon as such bond is fastened, the risk of suffering may or will appear because: Everything is transient and without our control for whatever reasons or Because, […]
The knots of suffering To be happy or even serene is not to be free from suffering, it is to suffer less. If we cannot transform the pain within ourselves, serenity would not be possible. Many people look for happiness outside themselves, but true happiness must come from inside of us. Our culture tells us […]
Is there a journey toward Awakening? “I have been meditating for 2 years with the group and alone at home every day. Also, I have been listening and read all Dharma talks. Where am I in the journey toward Awakening” asked the student. “ You are far away from it and also too close” I […]
The 4th Noble Truth (Reality): The Noble eightfold path 1st Noble Truth = Suffering” is an integral part of life. 2nd = 3 main causes of suffering (I want but don’t get, I am getting what I don’t want, and ignorance (illusions) ) 3rd = Extinction of suffering = Nirvana The 4th Noble Truth (Reality): […]
Being mindful cultivating relationships and joy. I started meditating in my early twenties, to address drugs, anxiety, and depression, I am now in my early seventies and still going, except for several hiatus’s I have been reading, studying, and practicing the Tao, Zen philosophy and of course meditation. Most people seek meditation as a way […]
Nurturing our good seeds As the soil of our planet, our subconscious is full of good and bad seeds that I will call weeds. When we water our seeds, they mature and manifest in our consciousness. Example: 1-By watering good seeds they will grow stronger creating positive thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. The growth of our […]
We are already Enlightened Being Awakened or Enlightened has nothing to do with paradise and being in a constant state of euphoria, bliss with spiritual power. The central teaching of Zen is that we are all intrinsically awake that is, we can experience genuine reality at it is and not as the mind-made fictional one. […]
