Most of us are attracted to meditation because of the serenity and ease it fosters.  That can keep us going for the rest of our lives.  But our practice can do so much more.  It can make us much happier than we ever imagine possible. There are two main points to remember about the Buddhist

We can take refuge in any moment, amid the turmoil of any day, in the Buddha and the Dharma.  In its simplest form, the refuge of Buddha is taking a breath mindfully.  It doesn’t even have to be a deep one.  The bare-bones of the Dharma is recognizing your suffering (dukkha), and remembering that it’s

When the Buddha laid out what he had realized in his Enlightenment, it was a complete guide to finding peace and joy.  The Eightfold Path is often divided into three categories, called Wisdom, Ethics and Practice, which cover the full circle of our days.  We are told what it’s all about: how to avoid being

We often greet people by asking, “How are you?”  Even if it’s automatic, it shows concern for their wellbeing.  Why not do the same with our meditation and daily life practice, which serves us so well in dealing with all our experiences?  The intention that leads us to meditate stays strong when we regularly ask

We all have a relationship with our bodies, even if we never give it a thought.  It can focus on our health, abilities, appearance, etc.  Meditation gives us a way to relate to the body from inside it.  That’s where our consciousness resides, continuously informed about the body and its environment by the five physical

The “Bliss of Blamelessness” is mentioned in early Buddhist teachings, and it’s a wonderful feeling to be free from remorse.  Of course, we can’t undo the past, but we can avoid the nagging discomfort of most future regrets by resisting impulsive actions.   Sure, but how?  If it were easy, life as animals who depend

I’ve often said that most of us come to practice for the stress reduction, and stay for the joy.  Early on, I taught meditation to substance abusers in a recovery program that saw this as a way to reduce stress.  Those moments in meditation when our punishing thoughts quiet down bring a sense of relief

The desire to end the suffering of all beings is at the heart of the Dharma.  But this tall order can be daunting.  Fortunately, each of us can help meaningfully when we hold it in perspective.  At almost any time in history this world has been in dire shape.   Thousands of years ago humans, like

In my first years of meditation practice, I went to a Zen center where every so often someone would give a talk called Way Seeking Mind, telling how they came to practice.  Many Buddhists say simply, and accurately, that people begin meditating because they’re suffering, but it’s usually more complex than that.  Way Seeking Mind

When we get into position to meditate, we bring our lives with us.  The full turbulence of our thoughts and feelings accompany our efforts to settle down and focus.  It can help to see our emotional state as part of what naturally hinders mindfulness, but which can also be a valuable part of our practice.