True humility comes from exchanging self with others, which is a blend of compassion and wisdom. As the great mind-training practitioner Geshe Langri Tangpa describes it: Whenever I associate with others May I view myself as the lowest of all. This is not a nebulous attitude but rooted in the clear understanding that cherishing a self that doesn’t exist is never going to work and that all the happiness there…
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Does how we view others come down to what we want out of life? If our main interest is in worldly enjoyments and achievements – for example we crave wealth or accolades – others can be in…
A guest article The Walk for Peace, which has captured the imaginations and hearts of millions of people, ends today in Washington DC. In this guest article, Jan Jemson describes this walk and then shares how it…
One of the things I’ve been thinking I’ll miss about Colorado is the endless space. It may be just “karmic wallpaper”, as a Buddhist nun friend helpfully put it; but the skies are huge, the windows are…
Some time has elapsed since I started talking about the emptiness of time, but there is only now, and now is the time. So here we go, carrying on from this: Wherever we go, there we are. …
Someone sent me an article this morning with this title, which I have shamelessly stolen, and the byline: A single act of kindness reminded me that, despite so much evidence to the contrary, the better angels of…
Hello everyone, happy holidays. Talking of which, I was contemplating this prayer the other day, one of the four immeasurables: May no one ever be separated from their happiness. This is often explained as referring to the…
(Ed: A lot has happened since I first wrote this article, and it all seems to prove the point. Which goes to show that Buddhist…
PREVIEW CLIP Here is a gift for you all for the holidays! If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the external activity and chit chat, or…
Yesterday I met Steve, recently evicted from his mobile home and locked out from his possessions for no longer earning enough money from eBay to…
Give me a dollar for the number of times I’ve been asked in the last ten or so years, “Is there an app for that?”…
A guest article by a modern Buddhist and full-time worker who aspires to become an actual Mahasiddha soon. Realized teachers of Je Tsongkhapa’s tradition have…
7 mins read + a video Now carrying on from this conversation about Tantra. And, by the way, this is the 400th article on Kadampa…
Today, September 22, is Buddha’s Return from Heaven Day, one of my…
Some people talk these days about “peak experiences”, and how they give meaning to a…
In this article I was talking about changing our thoughts to get past the grasping…
Strolling on Hampstead Heath recently, an old schoolfriend was telling me how he and his…
I just had my flu shot. (I know, I know, some of you will disapprove, I do a bit myself). But it reminded me of…
I seem to be here again at the Denver DMV. I thought I’d left this grimy place forever, but here I am back all over…
Guest article by Susan de la Vergne, native Angelino 5.5 mins read One of our weekly Kadampa branch classes in the Los Angeles area is…
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Society
Guest article. I put out the following question on Facebook, receiving replies from all…
Impermanence
Several friends and relatives have died in the last two months. Only…
Self Confidence
Have you felt bored or restless lately? (I first wrote this during…
Buddha nature
We all need to be able to let go of our unhappiness.…