5.12 The hostile multitudes are vast as space– What chance is there that all should be subdued? Let but this angry mind be overthrown And every foe is then and there destroyed. Ironically, I find comfort in this section of the Shantideva’s text–not because it provides clues, not because it helps me to understand the [...]

The Hungry Ghosts are probably the most vividly drawn metaphors in the Wheel of Life. Phantomlike creatures with withered limbs, grossly bloated bellies and long, thin necks,the Hungry Ghosts in many ways represent a fusion of rage and desire. Tormented by unfulfilled cravings and insatiably searching for gratification for old unfulfilled needs whose time has [...]

Remember this post about lifestyle activism? You should, it’s one of the most popular posts on FFJ! Well, that post made this post at Smilin Buddha (link via Angry Asian Buddhist) a really interesting read. It basically asks if Buddhism has become a part of “lifestyle activism” and if that is a good or bad [...]

“That we take ourselves so seriously, that we are so absurdly important in our own minds, is a problem. Self-importance is like a prison for us, limiting us to the world of our likes and dislikes. We end up bored to death with ourselves and our world. We end up very dissatisfied. We have two [...]

I’ve been spending so much of my life these past few months on Buddhism. Which has brought me to a bit of a conundrum on the old blog. I usually spend a lot of time talking about what is going on in the real world–but I’ve been restricting how much I talk about Buddhism because…well. [...]

Sending and taking should be practiced alternately. These two should ride the breath.

I am a Buddhist practitioner. I am also a survivor of abuse. Something that I have struggled with since I’ve been a small child is the sense of “submission” that so many religions, spiritualities, practices, etc emphasize within their dogma. In the best of worlds, that submission is highly theoretical and practical at the same [...]