Feature: Teaching on How to Use Yogic Songs as Dharma Practice
We have a booklet of Yogic Songs and at the end of each day we choose one of the songs to sing together and in this way keep our connection with the tradition of Yogic songs of realisation. As we sing them again and again we find we are learning them by heart, almost effortlessly, and they are a wonderful expression of our shared experience and culture. The words are profound and inspiring and as soon as we hear the melody somehow their meaning comes to mind. Continue reading Feature: Teaching on How to Use Yogic Songs as Dharma Practice
A Student Asks: What is it that continues after death? What is that continuity that passes from life to life and how does it do that?
The continuity in essence is in the openness, clarity and sensitivity of our being – and that is not in time or in space. It is continuity because it doesn’t change. This is a very deep point to ponder on. How is there continuity between a person in one life and their rebirth in a future birth? That is a question about how we can appear to manifest in a world in time and space even though in essence we are not limited to time and space. This is a very deep question. Continue reading A Student Asks: What is it that continues after death? What is that continuity that passes from life to life and how does it do that?
What can we learn from coincidence? What can it teach us about the nature of reality?
I think you are entirely right in thinking that all this is a sign that the nature of reality is very different from the way we habitually think. Jung talked of this kind of phenomenon in terms of synchronicity. It seems to happen more and more as one embarks on a spiritual path Continue reading What can we learn from coincidence? What can it teach us about the nature of reality?
Article: What does it mean to ‘take Refuge’?
In order to perform the action of going for Refuge, we need something to direct our action towards. We need something to set in the place of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha at centre of the mandala of sacred space that we are creating. The custom is to use a Buddha image to represent the Buddha and a text of the teachings to represent the Dharma. The Sangha is present in the person who is going to give the Refuge and any other practitioners present at the ceremony. Continue reading Article: What does it mean to ‘take Refuge’?
Student’s Question: How can we establish the right attitude towards our Meditation practice and not feel like we’re forcing ourselves?
In some ways the attitude is the whole thing in terms of meditation. There isn’t anything to do or to fail at in the end. It’s just a matter of linking into your experience in a particular way and you actually have to find that way yourself. Nobody can tell you how to do it really… There is nothing to fail at really. You either enjoy yourself or you don’t, but simply giving the time to it has an effect. So you can feel pleased about that and think of it as your contribution to the peace of the world. Continue reading Student’s Question: How can we establish the right attitude towards our Meditation practice and not feel like we’re forcing ourselves?
Why do people bow and make prostrations to shrines?
There is a lot of symbolism associated with this gesture, not simply the idea of prayer (as is the case in the West).The main point of the gesture is to open yourself to receive the adhistana (blessing, power) and express your appreciation and gratitude for it. Continue reading Why do people bow and make prostrations to shrines?
A Student Asks: Why are we here? What is the point of all this life?
From the Buddhist point of view the answer is that there is no point to a life that is not set on the path to Awakening. It is just a whole lot of suffering. Continue reading A Student Asks: Why are we here? What is the point of all this life?
