Being Peacefully | Advanced Buddhist Enlightenment Coaching
  • Home
  • Coaching Services
  • Rates
  • Reviews
  • Blog
    • Sagacious Buddhist Blog
    • Subscribe Here
  • About Ariya Michael
  • Contact

The Sagacious Buddhist Blog.
practical dharma teachings. questions|answers. essays.



answering your questions and teaching on buddhism, dharma, and enlightenment

- new teachings posted every 2 to 16 weeks, please subscribe to receive notifications -

ASK A QUESTION
Subscribe Here

Patience: How Buddhists Should Respond to Inconsiderate Acts of Others.

2/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Patience isn't a reward that is granted by praying for it, it's a skill that is cultivated by practicing it.
Buddhist meditator with a sky galaxy painted above
In this Q&A, we will learn about how Buddhists view and approach the teachings on kindness, tolerance, acceptance, and patience with others.

Q1: Unalome tattoos are gaining in popularity among non-Buddhist women, and though it is a beautiful symbol with a very powerful meaning I was wondering if people within the Buddhist community find offence with non-Buddhists getting these sacred symbols tattooed on their bodies?

Q2: I guess I'm wondering where the balance is between personal significance and cultural appropriation for you and if seeing these images on non-Buddhists is offensive?


Hi Lily,

Thank you for your email and your interesting questions.  Let's dive right in...

Read More
0 Comments

The Altruistic Intention: What People Get Wrong About Buddhism, Enlightenment, and Bodhisattvas.

11/2/2020

5 Comments

 
Dispelling a very common myth about the Altruistic Intention and the Mahayana Bodhisattva Path; and how it applies to your practice and attaining enlightenment.
Picture of Budda, Enlightenment, Alavaka, Triple Gem
In this article we will (1) learn about the Buddhist Altruistic Intention: what it is, what it isn't, and how it applies to Bodhisattvas and to your practice.  We will also briefly (2) review what Buddhist enlightenment is and what it means to be "enlightened."

Before we start, let's knock down some misbeliefs right now.

Mahayana Bodhisattvas and Nirvana: What People Get Wrong

Three Common Misbeliefs I Hear About Mahayana Bodhisattvas and/or the Mahayana Dharma:


  1. Belief #1: Bodhisattvas vow not to enter into nirvana until they have helped all beings to liberation.  This is not true.
  2. Belief #2: Mahayana Buddhists must not directly pursue stream-entry or enlightenment.  This is not true.
  3. Belief #3: Being motivated to attain enlightenment-in-this-life is both selfish and Hinayana.  This is not true.

These are remarkably common misunderstandings of the Mahayana Bodhisattava Path and the Altruistic Intention to guide others and spending time to understand the root texts and commentaries can help us better understand the intent and esoteric meaning of the teachings on this concept that hold us back from true progress along the Path.

But short of doing that—and before we jump into the concept of the Altruistic Intention—it's helpful to understand at a very high-level what enlightenment is to a Buddhist practitioner and what the implications are of attaining it, even partially.

So let's jump right in and begin!

Read More
5 Comments

Mindfulness Meditation Not Working For You? Here's Why.

10/17/2020

2 Comments

 
There's a big problem with the Western Meditation movement that no one wants to talk about.  Until now.
Hasbro GI Joe's Spirit and Cobra's Storm Shadow Meditating Incorrectly
In this article, we will cover what's wrong with western meditation, how to fix your practice, and why it's so important to attaining Awakening and Enlightenment.

"I’ve been meditating for years, but if I'm being honest, I don’t really enjoy doing it. I meditate because I think I’m supposed to, but I mostly find it boring and it is not something that I like to do.

Will I ever enjoy doing it, or is that not the point?"

- Anonymous


If you can relate with the question above, then I have good news, I can tell you why: it's because you've been taught how to meditate incorrectly.  Boredom (or even having a restless mind) is a guaranteed sign that you aren't actually meditating, it's a sure sign that you're just sitting still...and yes, that's boring.  I understand that some practitioners aren't going to like reading the rest of this, because they have developed their own views and notions, but allow me to explain as this goes against the rote teaching in the West and there is a lot to gain from keeping an open mind on this subject; so let's dive right in!

(Warning: the text that follows may be considered seditious and incendiary. That is not the intent; the intent is to highlight and correct in no uncertain terms.)

COMMENT: Huh, so, I was taught to meditate wrong?


Read More
2 Comments

Buddhist Renunciation Explained (a practical how-to guide)

9/27/2020

3 Comments

 
Renunciation is about wanting to put an end to Samsara: the endless cycle of birth, ageing, sickness, and death.
Birth Aging Sickness and Death Woman Samsara Endless Cycle
In this short article, we will cover what Renunciation is and what it isn't; how to cultivate it; and, why it's so important to attaining Awakening and Enlightenment.

Buddhist Renunciation isn't about asceticism or giving up pleasures and the finer things of life; believe it or not, you can renounce and still have those things.  Rather, genuine Renunciation is about rejecting our unskilful attachments to the things that make us unhappy.

Don't worry, this will all make sense shortly.

So, what is and what isn't Buddhist Renunciation, more specifically?


Read More
3 Comments

How to Nurture Your "Buddha Nature" to Develop a Strong Sense of Happiness.

7/27/2020

10 Comments

 
Each one of us has the seed to be unshakeably happy and peaceful; and you don't have to be a Buddhist to have it.
(Alt. Title: Recognising and connecting with your inner-goodness cultivates happiness)
Photo of a group of happy and being peacefully people.
In this article, we will cover what Buddha Nature is, how to recognise it, nurture it, cultivate it, and leverage it for happiness and Enlightenment.

Buddha nature is not extensively covered in most popular Dharma books and many practitioners have only a loose understanding of the topic.  

As with all of the "big" topics in Buddhism, Buddha nature is deep and profound and entire volumes are written on this topic. This article serves to introduce and re-enforce the concept for those who are newer to the idea or would like to learn a bit more about it and how it can benefit their practice. The more you practice, the more you will come to recognise the qualities of Buddha nature flowing from you and the clearer and more practical your Buddha nature will be to you.

So what is "Buddha Nature"?


Read More
10 Comments

Meditating on Emptiness: Stop - You're Wasting Your Time - Buddhism Explained

6/23/2020

3 Comments

 
A unique approach to finally understanding sunyata that actually works for practice, growth, and Enlightenment.
Picture of Woman's Legs, Feet, Hands in Buddhist Analytical Meditation at Being Peacefully Advanced Meditation Training and Dharma Coaching
I have problems trying to understand Emptiness. I even struggle at finding a better way of putting the idea of Emptiness or No-self as it is explained in dharma books and dharma talks into my own words. I suspect the causes will be in no small part because I am not fully understanding the subject in enough depth and therefore struggle in putting it into my own words, like the bowl with the holes in it, I discover it has all seeped away and just isn’t happening yet! I also don’t want to just parrot back words, I want to understand it enough to understand it with confidence and some insight.

- G.R.

Hi G.R.,

Emptiness (Sanskrit: śūnyatā) is an challenging topic for the uninitiated and it presents an almost impossible learning curve to beginners who are just starting to explore the Buddhist path...


Read More
3 Comments

Pity vs Compassion. How to spot the difference - Buddhism Explained Q&A

6/7/2020

6 Comments

 
Be a compassion expert by learning to stop pity at its root.
Compassion Versus Pity Heart Love Lamp Light
Great question, compassion and pity are quite commonly misunderstood.  And this is equally relevant to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

While entire schools of Buddhism are anchored on the concept of compassion, and many compendia have been written on the topic, here's an easy way to spot the difference:

Read More
6 Comments

Why is thinking about Death is so important to Buddhists (and can it help you)? - Buddhism Explained

5/13/2020

6 Comments

 
Despite common misconceptions, buddhists are not obsessed with death, they are obsessed with happiness.
buddha meditating on death and will use analytical meditation to process it
Ask a Buddhist what's the number one cause of death, and the Buddhist will say: "birth."

While it's true that Buddhism has a deep interest in the subject of Death, it is just a true to say that Buddhism has a deep interest in a great number of the things that seem to plague the human experience.  However, the comfort with which Buddhists can talk about Death seems to make a lot of people uncomfortable and, as a result, it gets over-played in our media and culture.

So why does Buddhism have such a focus on Death?


Read More
6 Comments

What is Karma and What isn't Karma? - Buddhism Explained Q&A

5/1/2020

5 Comments

 
Perhaps one of the most widely misunderstood concepts in all of buddhism and eastern philosophy.
Photo: Buddha statue meditating on karma and buddha nature in a field of yellow tulips
What is Karma really? Is our life predetermined or do we have agency? And what does it have to do with who we are or what we experience?
In this short article, we will cover what Karma is and what it isn't; how it relates to destiny and free-will; and, its relationship to your happiness and your peace-of-mind.

Karma is one of the most widely misunderstood concepts in all of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy.

Before I start, let me get this out of the way right upfront: Karma is not a universal morality system; it's not a bad behaviour boomerang.  In Buddhism, there is no God watching over anyone, rewarding do-gooders and smiting wrong-doers.

So, what is Karma then?


Read More
5 Comments

Analytical Meditation: What is it and how to do it - Buddhism Explained (Q&A Part Two)

4/21/2020

3 Comments

 
A very powerful, yet simple-to-understand practice.
Buddhist Analytical Meditation Blue Skies How To
Hi Michael, it's nice to see you again too.  Thank you so much for the help.  Let me see if I understand it clearly: what I usually end up doing is re-wording the meaning of the text, mainly so I can work with it in my head using my native language.  So should I also meditate on the words longer in order to burn the meaning into my core? Would that would be the right thing to do if I don't need to know the exact words?

- N.V.
Hi N.,

Thank you for your question to clarify your understanding.

We want to move away from recitations and start down the path of analytical meditation to help you get around your short-term memory issues; and rote memorisation does little for our understanding and insight, memory issues or not.

So how do you meditate analytically?  While there is a reason entire books and courses are written on this single topic, here is a simple process that you can use to start doing it today.

First of all, what is "analytical meditation" and how is it used?


Read More
3 Comments

Short-term Memory Problems Affecting Meditation & Dharma Practice - Buddhism Explained (Q&A Part One)

4/18/2020

0 Comments

 
Memory Issues Affecting Mindfulness and Meditation Practices
I have a problem with my ability to meditate, in 2015 something happened to me and my short-term memory has been affected ever since, so now I have a really hard time memorising the texts. So, I decided to just keep the texts with me (in-hand) and read them, but it feels so artificial. I had the exact same problem during a recent retreat and I don’t know how to handle it. Should I just make an extra effort until I memorize it all, allowing myself to just "be peaceful" and read, or should I skip the recitation part entirely?

- N. V.

Hi N.,

So nice to see you again.

I can understand how it can be frustrating or feel limiting to have your short-term memory affect your ability to meditate or memorise the buddhadharma. I have good news: it doesn't have to be!  May I offer an alternative to "artificially reading" the texts or skipping the recitation part entirely?

The purpose of the Dharma is neither memorisation nor recitation; at least not in its true sense.  However, we can use

Read More
0 Comments

Row, Row, Row Your (Dharma) Boat...

4/13/2020

2 Comments

 
a simple sing-along or chant that can be used as a teaching tool or a reminder practice.
Picture
This may seem silly and frivolous, but in these challenging times, it's nice to have more fodder for positive thoughts than negative ones, and I know many people are ruminating a lot on what they see as a pretty negative future-state.  :(

I was asked by a student to write a short mantra that they could remember to use with her children (and herself) as she saw fit, so I took a ubiquitous and popular children's song and I tweaked and reinterpreted it with deeper Buddhist meanings. 


Read More
2 Comments

Forgiveness: it's about our relationship with ourself.

4/6/2020

1 Comment

 
Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.
Forgiveness is really not about someone else’s harmful behavior; it’s about our relationship with our own past. When we begin to work on forgiveness, it's firstly a self-care practice for ourselves.

Forgiveness and patience are critical to being able to cultivate your ability to develop inner peace-of-mind and happiness.


1 Comment

Buddhist Perspective: A purse-snatching in Prague.

3/30/2020

0 Comments

 
prague-charles-bridge-czech-czechia-praha
I had intended to write about something else entirely, but I experienced something that reminded me that compassion is seeing beyond actions and understanding that all people have problems and are trying to be happy, and I wanted to share this story.

To set the context to some extent: I am an American expat and Buddhist practitioner currently residing in Prague, the Czech Republic. Prague is known to be one of the safest large-cities on the planet, and certainly ranks near the top of the safest cities in Europe list. I always feel safe in this city, regardless of time of day or location.


Read More
0 Comments

Advanced Buddhadharma and Steam-entry/Enlightenment training website soft-launches with new public beta!

3/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Having served business and lay professionals for years, the decision was made to expand my service-depth and reach with a presence online to provide another high-quality resource for intermediate Buddhists who are struggling with the affects of COVID19 and are in need of resources and guidance beyond the high-level.  Announcing the launch of our new website!

I am now accepting new students!

Stay tuned for edits, redactions, new content, and much more as we approach a full-launch later this year, complete with an enhanced client portal, online payments, multimedia learning library, and more.

In the mean time, please feel free to leave comments with your feedback, or send a message!

RSS Feed

0 Comments
    The Sagacious Buddhist Blog
    beingpeacefully.com/dharma-blog


    Subscribe.

    Click to Subscribe

    Categories.
    (Spring 2020 and newer only.)

    All
    Buddha Nature
    Buddhist Mythbusting
    Compassion
    Death & Dying
    Dukkha/Suffering
    Emptiness
    Enlightenment
    Forgiveness
    Happiness
    Karma
    Meditation
    Most Popular
    Questions & Answers
    Real Life Dharma
    Renunciation


    Archives.
    (Spring 2020 and newer only.)

    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020

    RSS Feed


    Author.

    Mike Turner Photo Buddhist Analytical Meditation Trainer
    Hi! My name is Mike Turner. I'm a Buddhist Ariya-puggala and I've spent over 25 years learning and cultivating what I do, and what I do goes far beyond meditation and dharma. 

    I work with dedicated Buddhist practitioners to help them attain stream-entry. This kind of one-on-one training isn't readily available to lay practitioners and I hope to do my part. 

    I'm available for intermediate and advanced practitioners of meditation-and-dharma to help them significantly advance their practice and their progress toward Buddhist enlightenment.

    Please visit my home page to see what my stream-entry and enlightenment training can do for you.


    Picture
    Do you have questions about meditation, dharma, or Buddhism? Need some advice, help, guidance, or just a better understanding?
    Ask a Question

    "The only thing that prevents people from attaining Enlightenment and experiencing Nirvana directly is insufficient instruction and/or practice."

    Enlightenment Coaching
    About Michael Turner
    Home Page / Overview

    I offer authentic and transformative steam-entry training and dharma life coaching and I encourage you to message me to learn more.


Photo Michael Turner Buddhist Philosopher, Dharma Coach, Meditation Instructor, Business Leader, Sales Trainer, and Mentor
Michael Turner is a pre-monastic Buddhist Ariya-puggala and a deeply accomplished enlightenment trainer and dharma life coach. He emphasises and teaches the practical application of Buddhism in our everyday lives to make real progress toward enlightenment and is particularly adept at explaining them in ways that can be easily understood and practiced by Western Buddhists. He has been meditating and cultivating the techniques to generate indestructible resilience and inner-strength for more than 25 years and has helped countless numbers of people enhance their practice to make clear progress along the Path.

SITE MAP

Home (Begin Here)
Coaching Services
Suggested Rates
Student Reviews
About Mike
Contact
Being Peacefully Logo
 do good. be kind. help others. be peaceful.™
Dharma Blog (Subscribe)
Ask a Buddhist Ariya
Make a Donation
Beyond Mindfulness
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

"being peacefully"®, "sagacious buddhist"™ and all logos/slogans are trademarks in the united states and/or other countries.
website by michael turner — being peacefully © 2013, 2021 — all rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Coaching Services
  • Rates
  • Reviews
  • Blog
    • Sagacious Buddhist Blog
    • Subscribe Here
  • About Ariya Michael
  • Contact