Daily Dharma

Realism in a Monastic Community Note: This excerpt, from the chapter titled “Stages of Monastic Life,” has to do with the various stages of insight… Read More »Realism in a Monastic Community

Killing Gasan instructed his students one day: “Those who speak against killing and who desire to spare the lives of all conscious beings are right.… Read More »Killing

Why Do Like-minded People Fight with Each Other? The brahmin Aramandanda approached the Venerable Mahakaccana, exchanged in friendly greetings with him, and asked him: “Why… Read More »Why Do Like-minded People Fight with Each Other?

The Arch Enemy of the Yogi The Yoga of Despair There are some things in life we can never sufficiently prepare for. And in the… Read More »The Arch Enemy of the Yogi

The Mechanism of Projection Of these mechanisms used by the mind to keep the feeling repressed, denial and projection are perhaps the best-known methods, as… Read More »The Mechanism of Projection

Letting Go Letting go involves being aware of a feeling, letting it come up, staying with it, and letting it run its course without wanting… Read More »Letting Go

Sacredness “Sacred” means set apart. Special. Exclusive. Different. There’s a built-in difficulty here: for it seems as if the sacred, to be the sacred, must… Read More »Sacredness

Identifying with Those Who Suffer Alone Without doubt, there is great value in spirituality that emphasizes and supports withdrawal from society. But in our time, with its special… Read More »Identifying with Those Who Suffer Alone

The Taoteching #18 When the Great Way disappearswe meet kindness and justicewhen reason appearswe meet great deceitwhen the six relations failwe meet obedience and lovewhen… Read More »The Taoteching #18

Balancing Commitment and Impermanence People often wonder how it is possible, in the face of impermanence, to make a commitment to a relationship. It certainly… Read More »Balancing Commitment and Impermanence