Abbot’s Commentary: Virtue Makes Life Fun

Abbot’s Commentary: Virtue Makes Life Fun

Life is hard. But virtue makes it fun. It’s like saying that tennis is hard. But getting better at tennis makes it fun. Virtue is the process of getting better at life, so it makes life fun. This is hard to understand because so often, we think that being better at...
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Nirvana

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Nirvana

There is an important teaching regarding samadhi that enjoys consensus among all Buddhist masters across all schools of Buddhism, which is that meditative experience and realization are different things.  In other words, no matter how sublime your jhāna...
The Buddhist Path is Filled With Joy

The Buddhist Path is Filled With Joy

The Buddha is the greatest genius in the history of the world.  One of his most important innovations, which is surprisingly less than prominent on the radars of many Buddhist teachers and scholars, is the central role of joy.  The path to enlightenment can...