Meditation Month Day 25

 

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PRACTICE PROMPT You don’t need a special experience to become enlightened.   If you truly see that subject and object are inherently one and the same, you can also see that you don’t need a special experience to become enlightened. Whether it is an extraordinary experience or a very mundane one, they are the same, revealing the single seamless field of awareness and world that you already are.

Related Content The Pine Tree in the Courtyard An excerpt from this week’s video explains how ordinary life has a transcendental nature—“everything is Buddha”—and the ordinary mind is the awakened mind.  Read more » In the Midst of the Ordinary Simply sitting with things as they are right now can be our most wonderful teacher, says writer, Zen master, and Abbot of the Zen Center of Syracuse Shinge Sherry Chayat Roshi.   Read more » Follow Us

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation /// Words of Wisdom - January 25, 2026 ⛄

 

“Grief hurts and it’s alright. That’s part of our human process. But in the meantime while all that is going on, cultivate that part of you that witnesses the whole process… just notice it, understanding it too will pass… but don’t make it pass too soon.”   Source: Ram Dass – Here and Now – Ep. 84 – Smorgasbord

Via Daily Dharma: Shifting Our Behavior

 

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Shifting Our Behavior Our minds are not the most useful tools when it comes to shifting our behavior. Few people are successful at thinking their way out of disorganization. Andrew Mellen, “Unstuff Your Life”  CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Foundations of Niguma Yoga By Kalu Rinpoche with Michele Loew Explore this starter guide to a once-secret tradition.  Read more » Buddhism for Beginners Tricycle's free learning platform Explore Tricycle’s free and comprehensive introduction to Buddhist teachings, history, and practices. Go in order, starting with the basics and moving into specifics, or jump in wherever works best for you. Explore more » Follow Us Forward today's wisdom to a friend »

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and the First Jhāna

 

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Body A person goes to the forest or to the root of a tree or to an empty place and sits down. Having crossed the legs, one sets the body erect. One establishes the presence of mindfulness. (MN 10) One is aware: "Ardent, fully aware, mindful, I am content." (SN 47.10)   Breathing in and out, experiencing the whole body …one is just aware, just mindful: "There is body." And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)

Reflection As you sit in formal practice your breath becomes an anchoring object of awareness. Other objects—sounds, thoughts—will intrude on your attention, but the breath is a baseline to which you can return. Notice the texture of the entire breath, from the beginning of the in-breath to the last moment of the out-breath, with steadiness and no interruption. When the mind is attentive like this it is naturally content. Daily Practice See if you can experience contentment while breathing. This means not wanting anything to be different than it is, not having anywhere else to go, not moving your mind beyond the moment but simply meeting each movement of the breath with mindful equanimity. You can feel the experience of the breath permeating your whole body and simply abide without clinging to anything whatsoever.  RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the First Phase of Absorption (1st Jhāna) Having abandoned the five hindrances, imperfections of the mind that weaken wisdom, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, one enters and abides in the first phase of absorption, which is accompanied by applied thought and sustained thought, with joy and the pleasure born of seclusion. (MN 4) Reflection Jhāna practice is not for everyone. Some take to it easily, some find it inaccessible. This is not something for you to succeed or fail at. If you are seriously interested in undertaking these concentration practices, then you should find a qualified teacher and practice in a protected space. Jhāna practice can contribute greatly to your understanding of the teachings, but is not a universal prerequisite. Lots of Buddhists don’t practice jhāna. Daily Practice Without striving for any kind of accomplishment, sit quietly at a dedicated time and place and allow the mind to gradually settle down, sinking through increasing layers of relaxation and calm. When one of the five hindrances arises, just gently let go of it and move the mind away from it. Whenever the mind is able to temporarily free itself of the hindrances, it naturally drops into the absorption of jhāna. Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Origin of  Suffering One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Feeling and Abiding in the Second Jhāna Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Gone, But Not Forgotten (FULL MOVIE) - 2003 - LGBTQ Love Story

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January 24, 2026 Practice Where You Are No matter how we show up, our practice is good enough.  In a recent episode of Tricycle Talks, Sharon A. Suh, a professor of theology and religious studies at Seattle University and the president of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, argues that being a "bad Buddhist" really means being an authentic Buddhist. It’s about showing up as you are and giving what you can give. It’s in the chaos of life that our practice lives. Reflecting on an interaction with feminist writer bell hooks at a Buddhism and feminism conference in 2006, Suh says she told hooks, “I don’t really consider myself a very good Buddhist because I have no time to meditate. I’ve got two little kids. I’m working nonstop."  Suh continues, "[bell hooks] looked at me and said, ‘You know, all you need is one or two minutes. Maybe your practice is being with the kids, going through all of this struggle. That’s the practice. So why are you struggling to fit something into your already busy life when your busy life is where the dharma is?’” Listen to the episode to hear more about what it means to Suh to be a “bad Buddhist,” the pitfalls of equating Buddhism primarily with meditation, and what she’s learned from bell hooks. Listen to the episode » Also this week: Are We One, this month's Film Club feature by Dónal Ó Céilleachair, is an exploration of interfaith dialogue through the lens of American Catholic priest and Zen Master Robert Kennedy.   Browse our updated Buddhism for Beginners resources for a comprehensive introduction to Buddhist history and traditions.   A new Tricycle online course starts February 9! Learn more about The Path of Dharma Friendship and enjoy a free meditation from the course to see if it’s right for you.