Insights into the Notion of Self

By Trungram Gyalwa, PhD

Where Buddhism and modern psychology differ It is said that recognizing the true nature of “self” eradicates all ignorance and...

Buddha Nature, the Ever-Present Seed of Enlightenment

By Lama Jampa Thaye

Understanding what Buddha nature is and what it isn’t In many of his later discourses, the Buddha taught that all...

Prajnaparamita and the Four Extremes

By Tilmann Lhundrup

What is Prajnaparamita Practice? The first or second-century BCE Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Stanzas) is...

The 6 Realms of Being in Buddhism

By Bart Mendel

How perceptions and projections define our experience of the world A fundamental tenet of the Buddha’s teachings is that our...

The Relationship Between Shamatha and Vipashyana Meditation

By Bart Mendel

Two Types of Buddhist Meditation Practice Buddhist meditation is made up of two main types called shamatha and vipashyana. We...

The Four Reminders

By Lama Jampa Thaye

What are the four reminders in Buddhism? The four reminders or contemplations are very powerful and productive because they lead...

Introduction to Abhidharma

By Tilmann Lhundrup

The science of Buddhist psychology (awakening and liberation) When the Buddha interacted with people over twenty-five hundred years ago, he...

The Life Story of the Buddha

By Bart Mendel

Life-changing lessons we can learn from the Buddha The Buddha did not begin his life as “The Buddha.” He began...

Buddha’s 8 Fold Path

By Joseph Rogers

Why Is The Eightfold Path Important? (Putting an End to Suffering) Buddhism offers a map, a path of practice. This...

Understanding the Accumulation of Merit and Wisdom

By Khaydroup Podvoll

Why accumulating merit and wisdom is important When we intentionally develop positive qualities, we’re building a certain spiritual force, a...

Remedies to Agitation and Dullness

By Tilmann Lhundrup

Two classic obstacles to meditation, explained When you’ve decided to meditate and work on training your mind, don’t assume that...

The Buddhist Teaching on the Five Aggregates – Part 1

By Lama Jampa Thaye

What are the five skandhas or aggregates? Why are the five aggregates important? This is a fundamental Buddhist teaching, and...

The Kryptonite of Compassion

By Rachel Parrish

What is true, unconditional, genuine compassion? Sometimes, when we witness a person or animal in a difficult situation, we feel...

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...