Buddhism can be taught in many ways. On one path, there’s a rigid, rational approach where strict adherence to precepts and lengthy, unwavering meditations are the norm. Here, even a minor movement can be seen as a lapse in discipline. In contrast, another path revels in intuition and spontaneity. It’s a world where enlightenment might come in a simple, yet profound moment — like gazing at a flower or the accidental dropping of a water bucket, revealing insights in the most unexpected ways.
I created an introductory course to Buddhist meditation very much in the middle. Each of the six modules contains a short essay that speaks, in an intuitive manner, to the heart of the teachings. These pieces serve as inspiration and encouragement for the hard work of deconditoning ourselves.
Here are those six essays.
Understanding the Predicament
We were born into uncertainty. Our bodies are constantly changing, our minds are ever more frantic, and our relationships with other beings are evolving perpetually. Everything is shifting, and we are greatly uncomfortable in the face of this predicament! On top of that, none of the great philosophical questions have truly been answered! What does a good life look like? What happens when we die? Where did we come from? What is the point of life? And the list…
