#mental formations

Happiness, Ego and Buddhism…

Happiness and sadness are not so different, really, just blips on a screen often better off blip-less. And this is one of the more difficult lessons of Buddhism, especially for a Westerner, who often define their lives by their passions, and their willingness to ‘go for it’ without ceasing, regardless of the odds of ever achieving the goal in question–or not. But these emotions are mere ‘mental…

blue flower of gentle softness

:: :: Innumerable seeds are stored in our deeper consciousness. When touched by ourselves or by our environment they put forth shoots. These can be anger, disappointment, despondency, irritation, joy, or elation.

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Angling for something; the mind looking for reward – clever creations. Words by Stephanie Mohan Photo by MALYBA

The Root of All Evil

Many people think that money is the root of all evil, but the Buddha teaches something totally different in the Mula (or Root) Sutta (Sutra). In this sutra, the Buddha asks, “In what are all phenomena rooted?” and, as in all sutras, he answers his own question. Thanissara (Mary Weinberg), a former nun in the Thai Forest tradition gave a dharma talk on this last Sunday night, and I was delighted…

A special day – for #meditation #photography

a calendar helps us mark the days away

we often make one day more special than others

if we stopped to reflect, we may see the fallacy

for all are equally special

Words and photo by Stephanie Mohan- February 2015