March 2016 full moon – Retreat and pre-retreat practice

Planning to go on retreat? I've had a few conversations recently with people who are planning to go on retreat soon, and at some stage in the discussion, there's often an embarrassed acknowledgement of feeling some anxiety about it.  Even for people who have been on retreat before and have some familiarity with the set-up,Continue reading "March 2016 full moon – Retreat and pre-retreat practice"

February 2016 full moon – Motivation, Respect, Resolve

The rewards and challenges of technology Earlier this evening, I gave my first dharma talk via video-link, from the YHA in Sydney to Auckland Insight in New Zealand.  Nothing too remarkable about that these days; but still, it was a delight to be able to connect with the group in this way, and I feltContinue reading "February 2016 full moon – Motivation, Respect, Resolve"

February 2016 new moon – sea anemone heart

Sea anemone by Virginia Draper http://www.virginiadraper.com/p822038089 Opening, closing, opening, closing ... Everything has its natural rhythm, including the human heart.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to understand this, but a childhood memory - of exploring rock-pools with my father while on holiday in Scotland - helped.  On family visits to chillyContinue reading "February 2016 new moon – sea anemone heart"

January 2016 full moon – Impermanence

This full moon post is a bit late again, partly because I've been on the move, travelling and teaching, and partly because a friend of mine is actively dying now.  Even though I'm not physically with her, the gravitational pull of death seems to dissolve any words that come into my mind, and I canContinue reading "January 2016 full moon – Impermanence"

December 2015 full moon – In praise of trees

This year, the full moon coincided with Christmas Day for the first time in 38 years. I'm in New Zealand visiting family for the holidays and even though it's the middle of summer, there are evergreen Christmas trees decorated with icicles and snowflakes everywhere. The symbols of Christmas have always been messed up - theContinue reading "December 2015 full moon – In praise of trees"

November 2015 full moon – gratitude

A few slightly random reflections on Gratitude "These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done." AN 2.118  As the three-month retreat at IMS comes to a close, there's a definiteContinue reading "November 2015 full moon – gratitude"

October 2015 full moon – Digital detox (or finding antidotes to “restlessness and worry”)

Last month I wrote about the hindrance of "sloth and torpor," the dullness of body and mind that gets in the way of clear seeing, insight. This month, I've been more aware of the opposite of sloth and torpor, which shows up in the form of "restlessness and worry", the fourth of the five hindrances. Continue reading "October 2015 full moon – Digital detox (or finding antidotes to “restlessness and worry”)"

Three new and interesting books for experienced meditators

I'm currently working my way - slowly! - through three new books that may be of interest to experienced meditators:  Seeing That Frees: Meditations on Emptiness and Dependent Arising Rob Burbea 10 October 2014 Hermes Amara Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas Leigh Brasington 13 October 2015 Shambala Compassion and Emptiness in EarlyContinue reading "Three new and interesting books for experienced meditators"

September 2015 full moon – Maintaining Motivation (or finding antidotes to “sloth and torpor”)

The five hindrances I've been back in New Zealand for the month of September, and with the Auckland Insight group, we've been exploring the Five Hindrances, five particularly unhelpful states of mind that get in the way of clear seeing, of insight.  They appear in the Satipatthana Sutta under the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, asContinue reading "September 2015 full moon – Maintaining Motivation (or finding antidotes to “sloth and torpor”)"

August 2015 full moon – International Bhikkhuni Day

This month, in honour of International Bhikkhuni Day on 12 September, instead of writing my own reflections I'd like to share part of an article by two bhikkunis (fully-ordained nuns), Ayya Santacitta and Ayya Santussika, who are also climate-change activists. I've had the good fortune to meet Ayya Santacitta a few times, both when IContinue reading "August 2015 full moon – International Bhikkhuni Day"