Category: Compassion

What is Karma and What isn't Karma? And Why It Matters. [UPDATED]

9/12/2021

Perhaps one of the most widely misunderstood concepts in all of buddhism and eastern philosophy: karma explained.

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.

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 deity watching over anyone, rewarding do-gooders and smiting wrong-doers.

So, what is Karma then?

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How to do Metta Meditation Correctly - Detailed Instructions (Loving-Kindness)

8/20/2021

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Metta meditation, also referred to as meditating on loving-kindness, is easy to do incorrectly or incompletely.

In this teaching you will find a detailed explanation, complete instructions, and a rich example recitation script of the equalising Metta Meditation on Loving-Kindness and Compassion. Plus, a bonus sutta that can be used to close your meditation session.

WHY MEDITATE ON LOVING-KINDNESS?

Before we begin, it's important to understand the difference between compassion and loving-kindness. Compassion is the desire for others to be free of pain and suffering, and loving-kindness is the desire for others to be happy. Without cultivating these fundamental limitless qualities within ourselves, progress toward awakening, streamentry, or enlightenment will forever be out of reach.

Metta meditation, or more colloquially, meditating on loving-kindness, is a core Buddhist practice that is practiced within all three of the main Buddhist traditions. It is so effective, that is has even made its way into the secular mainstream mindfulness movement. At its core, metta meditation is a necessary practice for cultivating the proper motivation and views that make progress along the Buddhist path toward enlightenment possible. Without this practice, and practices like this, it becomes too difficult to generate pure compassion and unbiased loving-kindness for ourselves and for others, especially given the angst-filled world in which we find ourselves living today.

The purpose of meditating on the loving-kindness is two-fold:

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

3/8/2021

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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)

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"?

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

2/10/2021

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Patience isn't a reward that is granted by praying for it, it's a skill that is cultivated by practicing it.

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...

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

1/8/2021

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Be a compassion expert by learning to stop pity at its root.

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:

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

11/2/2020

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Dispelling a very common myth about the Altruistic Intention and the Mahayana Bodhisattva Path; and how it applies to your practice and attaining enlightenment.

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:

Belief #1: Bodhisattvas vow not to enter into nirvana until they have helped all beings to liberation. This is not true.
Belief #2: Mahayana Buddhists must not directly pursue stream-entry or enlightenment. This is not true.
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 some time to understand the root texts and commentaries can help us to better understand the intent and esoteric meanings 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!

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Forgiveness: it's about our relationship with ourself.

4/6/2020

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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.

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True Buddhist Compassion: A Purse Snatching in Prague.

3/30/2020

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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.

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

What is Karma and What isn't Karma? And Why It Matters. [UPDATED]

How to do Metta Meditation Correctly - Detailed Instructions (Loving-Kindness)

WHY MEDITATE ON LOVING-KINDNESS?

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

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

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

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

Forgiveness: it's about our relationship with ourself.

True Buddhist Compassion: A Purse Snatching in Prague.

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

WHY MEDITATE ON LOVING-KINDNESS?

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Categories.(Spring 2020 and newer only.)

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

Categories.
(Spring 2020 and newer only.)

Archives.
(Spring 2020 and newer only.)