Why Do Opinions Become Part of Our Identity?

I recently wrote about whether we can become too attached to our identity. Since then another question has been bothering me. Where does that identity come from? We commonly describe ourselves through fairly obvious characteristics: nationality, gender, profession, education, religion, family and social background. But perhaps there is another part of identity that is less Read More

What Do Buddhist Prayer Flags Teach Us About Impermanence?

“All conditioned things are impermanent."— The Buddha During my many visits to Nepal over the past fifty years, I have almost come to take Buddhist prayer flags for granted. They seem to be everywhere. They stretch between stupas and temples, flutter above monastery roofs, cross mountain passes and dance from tall bamboo poles in remote Himalayan Read More

Identity and Buddhism

I have been thinking recently about the Buddhist teachings on the Factors of Awakening and the fetters, particularly the recurring problem of attachment and clinging. When we hear the word clinging, it is easy to think first about material things. The latest iPhone. A bigger television. A better house. A new car. Then there are Read More

Can You Be Enlightened Without Having Achieved Nibbana?

I’ve been thinking about a question that initially seemed quite straightforward: Can you be enlightened without having achieved Nibbāna? At first, I thought the answer might be yes. My reasoning was that perhaps enlightenment is the path, while Nibbāna is the destination. If that were the case, we could be becoming enlightened as we travel Read More

Can a Place Become Part of Our Meditation?

Meditation and Place I don’t often stop at this third seat. It is the closest to home, so I’m usually tempted to keep walking. But when I do sit here, I find myself looking at the water lilies growing in this particular lake. Or perhaps they are lotus flowers? Why does that matter? Partly because Read More