Category: Updated Resources

Ajahn Sucitto takes a deep look at the practice of wise concentration (samadhi) and presents an approach to it that is much different than we might anticipate. Rather than a grim focus on forcing our minds to concentrate on the breath, he presents it as an embodied practice of joy and awareness. You can find… Continue reading

Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Phillip Moffitt discusses mindfulness and how the practice of mindfulness is related to the Buddha’s teaching on liberation from stress and suffering. You can find his article here: What is the Mindfulness of the Buddha? Also on the Spirit Rock website, Sean Oakes gives an introduction to mindfulness that includes a brief introduction to the… Continue reading

Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Pascal Auclair explores four positive qualities of the heart, benevolence, compassion, joy, and equanimity that can benefit our lives and the lives of those around us. His focus is on the ways in which equanimity supports the presence of the other three qualities. He also discusses ways to practice equanimity and provides a guided meditation… Continue reading

Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

John DeCastro explores an approach to wise effort, effort that is truly helpful in our practice, both in formal meditation and in daily life. One of the ideas that is emphasized is that of the “middle way” between not exerting enough effort and exerting too much effort, or exerting effort in a tight and damaging… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Tony Bernhard also discusses wise livelihood in terms of our jobs, however he also suggests that wise livelihood can’t be separated from the way we live, not just how we make a living. Our choice of lifestyle and the impact that it has are also an important part of the process of living wisely. You… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Heidi Bourne, guiding teacher of Pacific Mindfulness, offers a good introduction to wise action and its role in a spiritual life. You can find her article here: Wise Action Jake Davis provides a more detailed description of wise action, and especially the ways that mindfulness of our emotions and thoughts can help us to discover… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Jay Michaelson talks about the holidays as a time of joy, and also as a difficult time for many people. Much of that difficulty results from cultural expectations of what it means to be happy during the holidays, and trying to make it happen. He has found that he is much more likely to be… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Insight Dialogue is the practice of learning to be mindful while speaking and listening. The Insight Dialogue guidelines are a great supplement to the Buddha’s teachings on wise speech. The guidelines are simple phrases that we can call to mind in the middle of a conversation to foster wise communication. You can find those guidelines… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Oren Jay Sofer has a post on his website that includes suggestions on how to navigate holiday conversations. He looks at some of the problems that might arise for us in family conversations during the holidays, especially when family members disagree about religion and politics. He posted the article in December 2023, but the situations… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support

Wise speech is one of the most difficult and important aspects of the path. When we speak wisely, we can foster kindness and communication that are sorely needed in the world. Nikki Mirghafori has a great introduction to wise speech that includes the questions that the Buddha suggested we ask ourselves before speaking. You can… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support