GATHER ’ROUND THE BREATH

Insight into Pain June 5, 2010 Pain is a fact of consciousness. It’s probably what distinguishes us from robots. They

Take the One Seat November 22, 2012 I was reading a guide to breath meditation tonight. The author’s recommendations were

Strengthening Conviction January 1, 2012 Meditating, strengthening the mind, is very similar to strengthening the body. You have some strength

Perceptions of the Breath March 23, 2010 To bring the mind to the breath, you need to have a perception—a

The Power of Perception November 9, 2009 There is a Pali word, nimitta, which is often translated as “sign,” meaning a visual

Judging Your Meditation February 3, 2008 Meditation is supposed to work. It’s supposed to make a difference in your mind.

Good & Bad Meditation February 6, 2008 Meditation is supposed to work. It’s supposed to make a difference. That’s why

Evaluating Your Practice January 12, 2012 When you try to bring the mind into concentration, there are two mental faculties

Measuring Progress November 28, 2010 This is a path that we’re following. The Buddha’s first teaching was about the noble

Delusion Concentration November 19, 2010 When you meditate, there are two problems on two sides that you have to watch

No Mistakes Are Fatal January, 2003 Our minds are pretty chaotic systems, which is why following the middle way is

Ups & Downs October 3, 2009 I saw a chart recently of a famous golfer and the winnings he had

Patience & Urgency July 26, 2009 We’re both lucky and unlucky that there are so many books on the practice.

Fabricating with Awareness August 10, 2012 When the Buddha explains the causes of suffering, he starts with ignorance, and from

The Arrow in the Heart August 17, 2012 A Thai poet, Sunthorn Phu, once wrote an adventure tale as a

Unskillful Thinking November 24, 2004 The practice of concentration often goes best when you treat it as a game, something

Unlearning Unskillful Behavior April 14, 2011 When you read the autobiographies of the forest ajaans, it’s hard not to be