Making merit in the name of a deceased The ceremony of making merit in the name of a deceased is one way of showing appreciation for our benefactors. Even many years after they have passed away, their…
By helping oneself one helps others Therefore, in the practice of Dhamma, even if one specifically looks to the benefit of other beings, the results that are most assured are those that arise within o…
A medicine for treating the ills of life Dhamma, when well practiced, is like a medicine for treating the ills of life, enabling us to live our lives well. The Buddha, as the proclaimer of the Dhamma,…
The primal disease All of the above refers to Dhamma as a collection of specific medicines for use with specific illnesses, the diseases of the defilements. Now there is another kind of disease which …
Becoming aware of sense contact We must find a way to treat these diseases by not allowing the defilements to arise. But how do we prevent the defilements from arising? First we must look on a broader…
Restraining the senses to see more clearly We must know how to function correctly in this world. If we know how to function properly, the disease won’t arise. To function properly in regard to t…
The development of the mind So on the higher levels of Buddhist practice we talk about bhāvanā, cultivation, the training of the mind. This training also has various levels. Initially one may train th…
Qualities of Samādhi When the mind is one-pointed, it is said to be like a magnifying glass which is used to concentrate the sun’s rays. Using a magnifying glass, a concentration of energy occur…
Right Samādhi If you want to understand samādhi correctly in the Buddhist sense, you must see it as it is described in the scriptures, as the mind that is malleable, fit for work. The mind that is mal…
The real value of Samādhi The real value of samādhi lies with wisdom. The difference between samādhi and wisdom is that samādhi renders the mind calm and undefiled for only a limited time. When the mi…