- Buddhist Training Is Meant to End
Doug asks when Buddhist training is supposed to end, and how anyone would know. Working from the simile of the raft and the Buddha's refusal to appoint a successor — telling the sangha instead to be islands unto themselves — he traces…
- Is Regret Holding You Back? The Buddha's Surprising Approach
The Buddha had a surprising approach to regret, and to how it fits into our practice. We'll discuss regret and the benefits of ethical reflection on our actions in early Buddhism, as well as how we can deal skillfully with making mistakes.
- What Is a "Fool" In Early Buddhism?
What did the Buddha mean by calling certain people "fools"? We'll consider what the words meant, and how we can recognize and overcome our own moments of foolishness.
- The Essential Role of Joy in Buddhist Practice
When we think of Buddhist practice, we usually don't think of joy, and yet joy is central to the path. We will consider ways in which practice can be used to cultivate joy, both in formal meditation and in daily life. We will also…
- Practicing Buddhist Right View: Beginning at the Deep End
What is Right View in early Buddhism, and how can we practice it in line with the Eightfold Path? We'll consider various aspects of both mundane and supramundane right view, and how we can practice with them.
- The Guardians of the World
Two emotional states play a key ethical role in early Buddhism. We'll look at these states that the Buddha called "the guardians of the world", and discuss how awareness of them can help our practice and our life.