Right view is the “forerunner” of the Noble Eightfold Path,[1] which is why the Buddha listed it first. Having the right view guides the practice. Right view is like having the right map, while the other seven are like having a good vehicle. The...
Once, the Buddha’s attendant Ānanda asked the Buddha a deceptively simple question: what is the teaching of all buddhas past and present? That is kind of like asking, “What is the teaching of all geography teachers in the world?” It takes a deep and...
Imagine a man holding onto a chain attached to a stake in the ground. He has been circling around that stake for years, walking thousands of miles without going anywhere. There is an end to his imprisonment, which will enable him to live a better life: he...
The five higher fetters can actually be surprisingly subtle when operating at the level of someone getting close to full enlightenment. One story that illustrates this involves the last obstacles to full enlightenment for Anuruddha, one of the Buddha’s ten main...
The prospect of working towards full enlightenment can be very daunting. Fortunately, there is good news, and there is even better news. The good news is that the path towards full enlightenment can be broken down into four stages, and reaching stage one...
But wait, is there more to nirvana? Is nirvana simply extinguishing (of greed, hatred, delusion and all things uncool), or is nirvana also some reality? The ancient texts strongly suggest the latter. As the wave analogy in the last post suggests, the...
