Are we supposed to be “enlightened?” Are we supposed to be perfect? If not, how do we measure our lives as Buddhists? If we are not expecting that, what standards are we holding ourselves to? Once I knew a Buddhist who regularly quoted a passage explaining why it was ok that he was grouchy all … Continue reading Aren’t You Supposed To Be Enlightened? (when you should be alarmed) →

This is a photo I took of Katok monastery in Tibet, last month during the celebration of Padmasambhava. Katok offers another example of how Tibet’s Buddhist Yogis have played a major role in Tibetan Buddhist history. Katok Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in eastern Tibet. It is also the oldest monastery of the Nyingma … Continue reading Beautiful Tibet & A Buddhist Yogi →

Four Slogans to Stop a Meltdown and Start Buddha Mind People often think Buddhism focuses exclusively on staying calm and keeping calm in calm peaceful atmospheres but Buddhist tantra values a different kind of entry point – crisis. Extreme experiences are regarded as fertile ground in Vajrayana Buddhism. When things are at their most difficult, when … Continue reading How to Stop a Meltdown Before It starts →