GREETINGS
Welcome to the Meditation Circle site. This longtime Buddhist-oriented meditation group based at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 520 Kanawha Boulevard W., in Charleston, West Virginia, will be closing down its meetings for good effective with the end of June 2022, after a good run. See the ‘RESOURCES’ page for tips on setting up or deepening meditation practice. Be well!
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Tag Archives: Quotes
The purpose of meditation
“The purpose of meditation is not to concentrate on the breath, without interruption, forever. That by itself would be a useless goal. The purpose of meditation is not to achieve a perfectly still and serene mind. Although a lovely state, … Continue reading
Awareness is your refuge
“Awareness is your refuge: awareness of the changingness of feelings, of attitudes, of moods, of material change and emotional change. Stay with that. because it’s a refuge that is indestructible. It’s not something that changes. It’s a refuge you can … Continue reading
Allow your thoughts to come and go
“Leave your front door and your back door open. Allow your thoughts to come and go. Just don’t serve them tea.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki
Turning on the light
“It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn’t depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn’t depend on how … Continue reading
Awareness is aware
“Awareness is aware of doubts about our ability to meditate, about being aware. Awareness is aware of wondering what stage we are at or… what we have attained, or whether we are just hopeless cases. It’s simply that thoughts are … Continue reading
Not just the breath
“Meditation is not just sitting on a cushion and following your breath. Meditation is SEEING the nature of your discriminating judgment mind.” ~Phakchok Rinpoche
Right Effort
photo credit: pixshark.com “It is very easy to do things that are harmful to oneself. It is very difficult to do things that are beneficial to oneself. ~The Buddha (The Dhammapada 163) Nevertheless, you should hold firmly to the … Continue reading
WHERE TO START
photo credit: pixshark.com “Start where you are. This is very important. Meditation practice is not about later, when you get it all together and you’re this person you really respect. You may be the most violent person in the world–that’s … Continue reading
Just plant the tree
“Your duty is to plant a tree, water it, and fertilize it, that’s all. Whether it’s going to grow fast or grow slowly, that’s not your duty. It’s the duty of the tree. You can stand there complaining about it … Continue reading
Fake Buddha Quotes: How to tell
As part of the Bhavana Society Therevadan Forest Monastery social media team, I’ve been helping with the Twitter feed for the West Virginia monastery. Which, if you are on Twitter, I highly recommend you follow, as it’s a great source … Continue reading
Healing our wounds
“The dharma can heal our wounds, our very ancient wounds that come not from original sin but from a misunderstanding so old that we can no longer see it. The instruction is to relate compassionately with where we find ourselves … Continue reading
An indestructible refuge
“Awareness is your refuge. Awareness of the changingness of feelings, of attitudes, of moods, of material change and emotional change. Stay with that, because it’s a refuge that is indestructible. It’s not something that changes. It’s a refuge you can … Continue reading
Overcoming Unworthiness
“Remind yourself, in whatever way is personally meaningful, that it is not in your best interest to reinforce thoughts and feelings of unworthiness. Even if you’ve already taken the bait and feel the familiar pull of self-denigration, marshal your intelligence, … Continue reading
Changing My Mind
“Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all the ingredients to breathe and find freedom just where you are.” ~ Jack Kornfield (from “Changing … Continue reading
A soft and accepting heart
“In a general sense, restlessness is a sign of lack of contentment. Let’s take remorse first as it’s a special kind of restlessness. Remorse is about feeling bad about something we’ve done. When that kind of feeling comes up, apply … Continue reading
