The work period and the regular chores we have in the monastery are an extension of our practice. It’s important to consciously bring that point to mind. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into the habit of being wrapped up in the excitement and enthusiasm we feel about the work project we are doing or being indifferent and waiting for the work period to be over. Whatever perceptions and attitudes we ma…

There are questions to which we still don’t know the answers, like how confident and comfortable we are at the thought of our own death. That question is about as primal as it gets in terms of things that are most conducive to insecurity and fear. We can work up a great deal of concern about not getting our coffee at the right temperature, but it pales to the thought, “I am going to die.” We put o…

There is a contrast between the mind caught in the habits of becoming, and the quality of right practice, in which we learn how to work towards realization without creating more confusion. The English word ‘becoming’ is a translation of the Pali word ‘bhava’, which is sometimes translated as ‘being’ or ‘existence’…but I prefer the translation ‘becoming’ because it conveys the quality of momentum.…

I think it’s easy to hold out hope that if I just get these teachings, the intellectual structure, or the techniques down pat, then I’ll be able to free myself from suffering. Maybe it’s not articulated as baldly as that, but it’s easy to internalize this and forget that there’s another really crucial element. Sometimes the teachings can be a bit formulaic, so it’s important to investigate their n…

The five faculties are listed in the order in which they ordinarily develop. You begin with conviction because conviction deals with your views about what’s possible in terms of your self and of your world. In terms of the world, you’re convinced about what is possible and desirable to strive for. In terms of your self, conviction deals with what you believe you are capable of doing. In the Buddha…

Chanting the Buddhist texts is not a technical or mental exercise or something that is practised merely as a tradition or cultural ritual. Rather it is devotion and recollection with mindfulness and awareness that we are developing. It offers a tangible sense of uplift for those who are chanting and also for those listening. I am sure many of us have had such an experience when we first heard thes…

Sometimes, of course, one doesn’t want to give up yet. One still wants rebirth and happiness and worldly things. Fair enough! But I don’t want you to go round lying to yourselves. If you want to have your own way and have rebirths and worldly happiness, then that’s your decision – but don’t delude yourselves by thinking that you are doing something else. If you really understand the teaching of th…

When we take the body — composed of elements, aggregates, sense media, and its 32 parts — and the mind — or awareness itself — and simplify them to their most basic terms, we’re left with name and form (nama, rupa). Form is another term for the body made up of the four elements. Name is a term for the mind residing in the body, the element that creates the body. If we want to cut back on states of…

There are three ways we act on the inclinations, impulses, and intentions that come through the mind, and these are through body, speech, or mind. In a monastery, where there are many restraints on our activities, we can particularly notice the action of speech. Because actions and ideas are often expressed through speech, it’s good to focus attention on this habit so we can learn about ourselves…

The last major learning for me was working with aspects of self-consciousness. I don’t actually like being on show; I’d much sooner go my own way quietly and be invisible. Yet, walking with shaven head and wearing robes is bound to attract some attention. And of course for that vital almsround, it has to. So I developed a standard of resting in kindness and letting the image of a monk quietly stan…