What Mindful Walking Finally Taught me

"When walking, the monk knows: ‘I am walking.’"— Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta Every morning begins in much the same way. I wake around 6.00 a.m., make cups of green tea for my wife and me, and we each spend forty minutes in meditation before beginning the day. Afterwards I head out for a walk, usually covering four Read More

Meditation And The Five Aggregates

One Buddhist teaching that continues to influence my meditation practice is the concept of the five aggregates. At first, the teaching can seem abstract or philosophical. But over time, it becomes surprisingly practical when observed directly during meditation. The five aggregates describe the different processes that make up what we usually think of as a Read More

What is Sangha in Buddhism

In Buddhism there is a traditional commitment recited by devotees across many different traditions: "I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha." These are known as the Three Jewels:the teacher,the teaching,and the community. The words "taking refuge" are deeply symbolic. Refuge means shelter, protection, or a safe place during difficulty and uncertainty. Read More

Buddhism in Old Age

“What I do know is that I feel deeply grateful for reaching old age myself.” As I have grown older, I have increasingly noticed how many people become more religious in later life. The exact age at which this happens is impossible to define, but I observed it very clearly in my own mother. She Read More

Mindfulness of Dhamma: Reflections from Practice

“He dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly knowing and mindful."Mahasatipatthana Sutra The Four Foundations of Mindfulness form one of the central teachings of Buddhism and are described in detail in the Satipatthana Sutta. They provide a practical framework for observing our experience as it unfolds moment by moment. The four foundations are: • Mindfulness Read More