The Meaning of Taking Refuge

By Lama Jampa Thaye

Seeking refuge and protection from suffering with the 3 jewels Taking refuge is a fundamental Buddhist practice. It may be...

The Importance of Wise View in Buddhism

By Joseph Rogers

Two types of wise view as the foundation of Buddha's 8-fold path As we enter the path of practice, it’s...

Overcoming Obstacles in Meditation Practice

By Sara-Mai Conway

The 5 Hindrances (Five Veils) to Meditation Practice Our meditation practice is rife with obstacles, even before we ever get...

Buddhism’s Three Types of Suffering

By Sara-Mai Conway

Multiple times throughout the course of his life, the Buddha taught the four noble truths. The first of these is...

Buddhism’s 3 Disciplines of Ethics, Meditation and Wisdom

By Sara-Mai Conway

The Three Wisdoms (Three Higher Trainings or Threefold Training) After his awakening under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha spent nearly...

The Benefits of Avoiding these 10 Non-Virtuous Actions

By Sara-Mai Conway

Every authentic spiritual tradition offers us some form of guidance for ethical living. The ten non-virtues of Buddhism teach us...

What Are Buddhism’s 4 Noble Truths?

By Sara-Mai Conway

Understanding the Four Noble Truths (Path to the End of Suffering) Post Summary: The Four Noble Truths are central to...

Understanding Intelligent vs Blind Faith

By Sara-Mai Conway

Blind Faith is Discouraged (What We Can Learn from The Buddha?) Some people have difficulty with the word faith, and...

What Does it Mean to Take Refuge?

By Sara-Mai Conway

Taking Refuge in the 3 Jewels Of Buddhism When we’re suffering, it’s natural to try and seek refuge, or shelter...

Spiritual Materialism and How to Avoid It

By Sara-Mai Conway

What is Spiritual Materialism? (and How To Move Beyond It) Spiritual materialism is a term coined by the Tibetan Buddhist...

Spiritual Bypassing and How to Avoid It

By Sara-Mai Conway

What Is Spiritual Bypassing? Definition, Levels, and Examples Most people turn towards meditation and a more spiritual life because they...

What is This Thing We Call Self?

By Bart Mendel

We Are Not What We Think (And the Idea of Selflessness) We know from our experience that everything is always...

What Are the Four Foundations of Mindfulness?

By Sara-Mai Conway

Shifting our full attention to the mind itself with direct experience Mindfulness meditation teaches us to be present with whatever...

How Meditation and Morality are Connected

By Sara-Mai Conway

In Buddhism and other ancient traditions, including yoga, training in morality is considered a precursor to meditation practice. At the...

What is A Bodhisattva?

By Sara-Mai Conway

What is the Meaning of Bodhisattva? Definition, Origins & Practices The bodhisattva seated in meditation is among the most iconic...