…of the Mahayana, around the start of the common era, when the bodhisattva ideal gained more widespread popularity among practitioners. With the growth of interest in the bodhisattva path, Theravadin scholars responded from within their tradition. For example, there is…

…and giving up. Questioning doubt inspires action and the impulse to understand. It can, in fact, be helpful for mindfulness practice. A questioning attitude encourages deeper investigation. It is a healthy doubt that can overcome complacency and loosen preconceived ideas….

…components. It had to have complete control over the body, feelings, thoughts, impulses, intentions, consciousness, or perceptions. It had to be permanent. And it had to be blissful. In this discourse, the Buddha makes it clear that nothing in our…

…relationships to others and to our spiritual life. As actions done with others to share our common values, rituals help create community and mutual support. As a way of being mindful, they can bring a heightened awareness to aspects of…

…happening.” You know, because when we’re paying attention to our minds in meditation, we’re focusing on the breath, a thought comes up and we just let it go, an irritation comes up and we let it go; we are in…

…a more profound sense, the over-arching perspective of calm awareness may show us that having problems may be completely acceptable. We realize that our ability to be whole and complete is not compromised by the problem. In fact, our wholeness…

…a life based on spiritual freedom and compassion. It is a commitment that simultaneously energizes us to act in new ways while encouraging a deep relaxation. So many unnecessary things can be let go of when we trust that the…

…also guide the mind toward further freedom from attachments. Wise seclusion is a stepping stone to freedom and a form of freedom in itself. With the help of seclusion, meditation is a path to fuller and fuller experiences of freedom….

…in the sphere of interpersonal communication, a parallel to wisdom in the sphere of private understanding. The two are respectively the outward and inward modalities of the same commitment to what is real. Wisdom consists in the realization of truth,…

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…for not doing so only adds to our suffering and hinders the growth of compassion. To evaluate one’s spiritual practice by the presence of joy and ease is often myopic; it overlooks the range of other personal qualities that we…

…all too easy to make poor choices. Freedom, that is, free will and the ability to choose wisely, is easily compromised. Craving takes a toll on our bodies when it expresses itself as physical tension. And it can take an…

…that comes from inner balance, come together in mindfulness practice. As mindfulness becomes stronger, so does our equanimity. We see with greater independence and freedom. And, at the same time, equanimity becomes an inner strength that keeps us balanced in…