Category Archives: Uncategorized

Retreat as rebellion

Resisting the tyranny of productivity Over the last few months, I’ve been having conversations with students – and with myself! – about what feels to be the increasingly relentless busyness of our lives. People often say to me that they don’t have time to meditate every day, and they certainly don’t have time to goContinueContinue reading “Retreat as rebellion”

Christchurch mosque shootings

Again and again and again we need to understand … HATRED NEVER ENDS THROUGH HATRED.  BY NON-HATRED ALONE DOES IT END.  THIS IS AN ANCIENT TRUTH. The Dhammapada: Teachings of the Buddha translated from the Pali by Gil Fronsdal 2008 Whether you are a Muslim, or an ally, this is a moment to show upContinueContinue reading “Christchurch mosque shootings”

January/February 2018 super blue blood moon – Buddhist visual art and architecture

This month, I felt the need for some inspiration of the senses, so I’ve decided to set up a webpage dedicated to visual art that’s either been created by practising Buddhists, or features images or sculptures of the Buddha, or evokes meditative states. Below are just a few samples I’ve found recently.  There are largerContinueContinue reading “January/February 2018 super blue blood moon – Buddhist visual art and architecture”

January 2018 full moon – re-set

Sydney Insight Meditators 2018 New Year’s retreat Making positive changes The New Year is traditionally a time to try to make positive changes for the year ahead.  And yet most of us have had the experience of starting out with a rush of good intentions, only to find ourselves collapsing back into old habits veryContinueContinue reading “January 2018 full moon – re-set”

December 2017 super moon – impermanence, vastness, and intimacy

Impermanence This month’s full moon post is a little late, because just this morning, I finished co-teaching the last six weeks of the three-month retreat at IMS in Barre, Massachusetts. The ending of any period of intensive meditation practice is poignant, but even more so when it’s been a longer retreat.  As this retreat wasContinueContinue reading “December 2017 super moon – impermanence, vastness, and intimacy”

September 2017 full moon – Taking A Stand

Stand Against Suffering: A Call to Action by Buddhist Teachers “‘As long as a society protects the vulnerable among them, they can be expected to prosper and not decline.’ The Buddha, in the Mahaparinirvana Sutta Buddhism does not align itself with any party or ideology. But when great suffering is at stake, Buddhists must take aContinueContinue reading “September 2017 full moon – Taking A Stand”

July 2017 full moon – Gratitude

Just last week, I finished a one-month retreat at the Insight Meditation Society’s Forest Refuge in Barre, Massachusetts, led by Sayadaw U Vivekananda.  What a relief it was, to temporarily put down some of the burdens I didn’t even know I was carrying, and to have such a powerful opportunity to “disentangle the tangle” (asContinueContinue reading “July 2017 full moon – Gratitude”

Let’s Stand Up Together – Bhikkhu Bodhi

In response to the intense turbulence of the last few months, and the immense outpouring of messages of resistance and support, adding my own not-so-articulate-or-informed opinions to all of that seemed redundant.  I’ve been staying quiet in terms of not posting, but active in terms of looking for ways to resist harmful energies, whichever countryContinueContinue reading “Let’s Stand Up Together – Bhikkhu Bodhi”

December 2016 full moon – Wise Action, Wise Non-Action

The Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is the Buddha’s prescription for completely curing ourselves of unhappiness.  And like any good medicine, it doesn’t only work in one way.  It’s a very holistic treatment that works on several different aspects of our lives at once – in fact, every aspect of our lives isContinueContinue reading “December 2016 full moon – Wise Action, Wise Non-Action”