Latest posts
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Understanding the Pāli Canon: The Foundation of Buddhist Wisdom
Key Takeaways 1. Introduction For anyone beginning a journey into Buddhist study, the sheer volume of teachings can feel overwhelming. You might encounter various concepts like mindfulness, ethics, or wisdom, but without understanding their source, it is difficult to see how they fit together. The Pāli Canon [Tipiṭaka] is the foundational map for this journey.…
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What Buddhism Is (and Isn’t): A Clear Beginner Orientation
Category: Core Teachings | Level: Introductory | Reading Time: approx. 18 minutes Key Takeaways Introduction Most people who encounter Buddhism for the first time arrive with impressions formed elsewhere — from a passing reference in a self-help book, an image of a meditating figure, a phrase about “living in the moment,” or a cultural association…
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108 Misunderstandings About Buddhism
Section I: The Nature of the Buddha and Enlightenment 1. The Buddha is a god. 2. Buddhism is a pessimistic religion obsessed with suffering. 3. There is no self, so nothing exists. 4. Karma is fate or predestination. 5. Rebirth means a soul transmigrates. 6. Buddhism teaches that desire should be completely suppressed. 7. Nirvana…
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The Five Remembrances (Upajjhatthana Sutta) – A Guide to Contemplating Life’s Unavoidable Truths
Key Points at a Glance Introduction to Buddhist Psychology and the Upajjhatthana Sutta Buddhist psychology is not an abstract academic discipline. It is a practical, lived framework for understanding how the mind creates suffering through its habitual resistance to the natural flow of reality. While many Western psychologies emphasize biography, personality formation, and developmental conditioning,…
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Buddhist Comics – Part I
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112 Contemplations for Buddhist Psychology
A modern synthesis drawn from the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, Theravāda Abhidhamma, and Mahayana mind‑training texts. These contemplations aim to be faithful in spirit to their source traditions while offering a practical, psychologically accessible curriculum for contemporary readers. They are offered as humble tools for direct investigation, not as absolute dogma. 1–12: Establishing Mindfulness 1. Mindfulness of…
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Buddhist Practices for Overcoming Fear and Doubt
Key Takeaways 1. Introduction: The Psychological Landscape of Fear and Doubt We live in an age saturated with information, yet uncertainty and anxiety seem to have settled deep into the fabric of daily life. Modern culture often treats fear and doubt as problems to be medicated, managed, or simply endured. They are seen as glitches…
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Failure in Ethics and Failure in View; Accomplishment in Ethics and Accomplishment in View
Note to readers: The fourfold framework used in this article (failure/accomplishment in ethics and view) is a modern teaching synthesis based on principles found across the Pali Canon and later Buddhist traditions. It is not presented as a direct quotation from any single sutta but as an organizing structure to help understand how the Buddha…
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Buddhism Q&A: 108 Core Questions
Introduction Buddhism offers a profound and practical path to understanding the nature of existence, the roots of suffering, and the possibility of genuine liberation. This collection of 108 essential questions is structured to guide the practitioner from foundational concepts to advanced philosophical inquiries, ensuring a logical and comprehensive exploration. Each question is designed to be…