Writings
The essence of meditation And this our life, exempt from public haunt,Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,Sermons in stones, and good in everything.As You Like It, Act II, Scene 1. I'm delighted to announce the release of my new book, Going with the Flow!It's a practical guide to deep, transformative meditation practices, offered in modern, non-sectaria [...]
A practical guide to early Buddhism 'A teaching that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased; a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.'-Buddha, DN2. I'm delighted to announce the release of my new book, In Buddha's Wake. This book is a practical guide to the incredibly rich tradition [...]
A practice guide for the teachings of Zen master Bankei 'Not a single one of you people at this meeting is unenlightened. Everyone here is a Buddha. So listen carefully! Each of you received the Buddha-Mind from your mothers when you were born, and nothing else. This inherited Buddha-Mind is beyond any doubt unborn and marvellously illuminating.'Conclusively realise that what’s unborn and…
Taking some time to recharge Christmas is almost upon us! It's a time to reflect on the year that's now been and gone, to spend time unwinding and recharging, and perhaps to make some plans for the year ahead.In my case, that reflection has led to some difficult decisions. I've been running a weekly class for over five years now, and for the last three of those years I've also been publishing an…
Bringing the Anapanasati Sutta together Over the past few weeks, we've been looking at Majjhima Nikaya 118, the Anapanasati Sutta - the discourse on mindfulness of breathing in and out.The Anapanasati Sutta presents a practice composed of sixteen steps, grouped into four 'tetrads' - four groups of four steps each - and in past weeks we've taken each tetrad in turn:First tetrad (steps 1-4)Second…
Letting go into the flow of life This week we're continuing once again with our discussion of the Anapanasati Sutta, looking at the fourth and final section (or 'tetrad') of practices, before bringing it all together next week in the final article of the year. Each step in the Anapanasati Sutta builds on the ones that came before it, so there will be a few references back to the previous parts…
Anapanasati Sutta, part 3 This week we're continuing once again with our discussion of the Anapanasati Sutta, looking at the third section (or 'tetrad') of practices. Each step in the Anapanasati Sutta builds on the ones that came before it, so there will be a few references back to the previous parts (part 1, part 2) - it may be worth reading those first before proceeding unless you're already…
Anapanasati Sutta, part 2 This week we're continuing with our discussion of the Anapanasati Sutta. We covered the background of the discourse last week, so if you haven't read that article already it's probably better to start there.Moving into the second tetrad, and the progression of the Anapanasati SuttaIn the first tetrad, we used the breathing first to establish a basic level of mindfulness,…
Anapanasati Sutta, part 1 "Bhikkhus, when mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it is of great fruit and great benefit. When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it fulfils the four foundations of mindfulness. When the four foundations of mindfulness are developed and cultivated, they fulfil the seven enlightenment factors. When the seven enlightenment factors are…
From the sublime to the ridiculous A monk asked Master Qianfeng, '"The blessed ones of the ten directions have one road of Nirvana." Where is the road?'Qianfeng raised his staff, drew a line, and said, 'Here.'Subsequently the monk asked Master Yunmen for further instruction. Yunmen held up a fan and said, 'This fan leaps up to the thirty-third heaven and bumps into the nose of the chief of the…