Category Archives: Readings

Mindful Reflection on the Body

“We don’t meditate to hate our bodies or other bodies. Unsatisfactoriness depends on clinging to impermanent bodies. A mindful meditator should remind himself or herself that an attractive object has triggered sense desire. One should then develop wise reflection or … Continue reading

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There is no “time off” from karma

By LYNN J. KELLEY | From “The Buddha’s Advice to Laypeople” blog The Dhammapada is probably the most popular Buddhist literature in the world. It consists of 423 verses — sort of poetry, sort of philosophy, and a useful set … Continue reading

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A flower has no intention of making us happy

“WHEN WE SEE A FLOWER, we think, ‘How pretty.  I like looking at this.’ The feeling is one of acceptance.  Seeing a cockroach, however, may cause revulsion and rejection.  We may experience feelings like ‘I don’t want to see that.  … Continue reading

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“Refuge: The Heart’s Own Knowing”

NOTE: Thanisssara will offer an online teaching on “Refuge: The Heart’s Own Knowing,” on SUNDAY Sept. 29, 2019. Register here at WorldwideInsight.org., the site of an online Dharma practice group. The teachings are given in the Buddhist tradition of dana: … Continue reading

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The Highest of tastes

“Conviction is a person’s highest wealth.Dhamma, when well-practiced, brings bliss.Truth is the highest of tastes.Living with discernment,one’s life is called best.” ~The BuddhaSutta Nipata, 1.184

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Seeing the Story of “Me”

Excerpt from “The Buddha’s Advice to Laypeople” blog by Lynne J. Kelley for July 23, 2019. Read whole post here. The Pali word most often translated into English as mindfulness is sati, and here’s something important Anālayo Bhikkhu has to … Continue reading

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Informing Practice Through Study

“Upon embarking on any course we need to understand what we are undertaking and why. This is especially true for endeavors of great consequence, such as Dharma practice, which have the power to reshape our lives in radical ways. Buddhist … Continue reading

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Dealing with frustration

Readings “Greed and hatred and delusion or confusion are not coming from outside. They all come from within, in our own minds. So, when we meditate we can see how greed arises in us, how hatred and confusion arise in … Continue reading

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This Breath

Readings “Don’t tell yourself you’ve got a whole hour to sit here. Just tell yourself you’ve got this breath: this breath coming in, this breath going out. That’s all there is: this breath. As for the breaths for the rest … Continue reading

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WORTH THE EFFORT

Readings “SO, IN THE BEGINNING you have to take it on faith — that we’re not living in a totally deterministic world or totally random world, and that it really is worth the effort to try to develop a skill, … Continue reading

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The Basic Pattern

Thanissaro Bhikkhu “The important thing is that you look at your meditation in terms of action and result. ~ So whatever level of practice you’re on, whether it’s simply day-to-day interactions with other people or working directly with your mind, … Continue reading

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Free the Mind

READINGS “We must always remember that our highest goal is to free our mind from all greed, all hatred, all confusion. The greatest impact we can have on the world is to face every circumstance with a mind of clarity, … Continue reading

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When mindfulness is present

READINGS … Hindrances cannot arise when mindfulness is present. Mindfulness is attention to present-moment reality, and therefore, directly antithetical to the dazed state of mind that characterizes impediments. As meditators, it is only when we let our mindfulness slip that … Continue reading

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READINGS: It’s like this

READINGS Excerpts from a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Sumedho, one of the most esteemed Western monks in the Thai Forest tradition. + + + Bring your attention to this moment, here and now. Whatever you’re feeling physically or emotionally, whatever … Continue reading

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Studying the Dhammapada: Verses 1-2

The Meditation Circle of Charleston has a new schedule that began this week, moving our regular Tuesday meeting to every Monday. We’ve also expanded the meeting time, adding an optional half-hour session from 5:30 to 6 p.m., featuring Qigong moving … Continue reading

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