Seng-ts’an lived in the late sixth century, and was the third patriarch of Zen Buddhism in China. He wrote a famous poem blending Taoism and Buddhism in which he said: “Do not search for the truth; just let go of your opinions.” He also wrote: “The great way is not difficult for those who are unattached to theirRead more
The Ego
Why Can’t I Meditate?
Almost everyone has tried and failed at meditation. We don’t have time, we get distracted, spurious thoughts ruin our concentration, we fall asleep, it just doesn’t work, or any one of 127 other reasons keep us from finding a few minutes to sit each day. This is rich fodder for self-condemnation, but the reason you have been unableRead more
Fear
Humans have two states of being. You are either in the God Space or you are not. In other words, you either live from a place of compassion or you are dealing with some kind of fear. There are levels of intensity to the fear, but basically it is an either/or proposition. When you are in the GodRead more
Loving Yourself
Do you love yourself? Most people will say, “Yes,” but they have to think about it. The simple fact is that most of us don’t really love ourselves. We don’t appreciate our redeeming qualities and are painfully aware of our failures. If I were to ask you to list the ten or twenty worst things in your life,Read more
Being Happy
How happy are you? It’s a question that is difficult to answer. Are you really happy, or have you settled for something less? Perhaps a lot less and rationalized your dissatisfaction? Are your personal passions stifled? Are you frustrated with your work or your relationships? Look at the people around you. How many of your friends are trulyRead more