The Stream-entry Buddhist Blog
Long-format Pāli Canon-based Teachings and Essays
by Upāsaka Michael Turner
(f.k.a. Anagārika Pasannacitta)
Buddhist Therapist, Life Coach, and Dharma Trainer
— One-on-One Buddhist Training by Request —
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a simple sing-along or chant that can be used as a teaching tool or a reminder practice.  I was asked by a student to write a short mantra that she 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. 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. It has served them well as a succinct reminder of many of the core principles of Buddhism that I, myself, am mindful to practice and teach everyday: impermanence, emptiness, joyous effort, mindful concentration, bodhicitta, metta, and skilful action (and more if you read further into the subtext). There's a lot packed in this short song, so I wanted to share it with others. May this bring a smile, or be of some small benefit, to someone. With metta, Michael Turner To the melody of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:  (*dharma commentary/meaning in parentheses)
"Row, row, row (joyous effort) your boat (impermanent container-body) gently (mindfulness) 'cross the stream (enlightenment); merrily, happily, patiently, lovingly (compassion/bodhicitta) life is but a dream (impermanence/emptiness)."
4 Comments
Emily
6/7/2020 23:46:47
Ahh I love it, its so cute. Its perfect for my daughter!
Monica Jones
10/17/2020 10:12:15
Silly and frivolous? I thought so too, but I've been singing this to myself for the past two days and I wanted to come back to thank you. There is a lot you packed into this song with much meaning and it has been good for my daily reminders! Thank you.
Sarah Smith
9/24/2021 18:38:12
I too found things to be of benefit and have come back to thank you. So, thank you. :) May you be able to continue on your path to monkhood soon.
Sarah Smith
9/24/2021 18:38:41
I too found this to be of benefit and have come back to thank you. So, thank you. :) May you be able to continue on your path to monkhood soon. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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The Teacher
Michael Turner, teacher and former Buddhist anagārika.
"The only thing that prevents people from awakening, stream-entry, and directly experiencing the stages of enlightenment is incorrect instruction and/or insufficient practice."
– Michael Turner Hello! My name is Michael Turner (my Dhamma name is Upāsaka Pasannacitta).
I am an Early Buddhism mentor, ariya-puggala (sakadāgāmi), therapist, coach, Buddhist precept holder, and I spent eight years living and working as a Buddhist anagārika, a pre-monastic renunciant. I work with dedicated Buddhist practitioners of all levels, from beginners to advanced, to help them attain measurable progress toward happiness and nibbāna. This kind of one-on-one training is uncommon for most lay practitioners. If you are interested, please visit my coaching page or training page to learn more, or contact me to discuss becoming a Buddhist trainee today. Categories
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Michael Turner is a sakadāgāmi and a former Buddhist anagārika. He is also a deeply accomplished stream-entry mentor, applied-dharma coach, and Buddhist therapist. He emphasises and teaches the practical application of the Buddha's teachings in our everyday lives to overcome the problems that stand in the way of making measurable progress toward Buddhist enlightenment and he 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 views and techniques that generate indestructible resilience, inner-strength, and direct experience for almost 30 years and has helped countless numbers of students and peers enhance and course-correct their practice to make veritable progress along the path toward Nibbāna.
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