Contemplative Studies Program Blog
The Perfection of Virtue or Morality | Step 25 of Awakening in 30 Steps Aug 10, 2021

There are three types of morality:

1) Restraining from causing harm

2) Accumulating merit through virtue

3) Benefiting all sentient beings

Want an assignment? Look up the ten non-virtues and their opposites.

Using my snowflake model how is the perfection of morality connected and enhanced by...

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Karma | Step 12 of Awakening in 30 Steps Jul 27, 2021

Causality Inspires Agency.

What are your thoughts on pop culture versions of karma theory like the boomerang effect “what goes are comes around”, or the law of attraction?

While everything is based on a principle of causation, the Buddha’s emphasis with karma was on mental...

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Karma and Emptiness Are Your Greatest Friends Mar 04, 2021
The following is a lightly edited excerpt from Find True Refuge.

How many of you feel like you're a terrible sinner? How many of you went through all the hell realms in the Yangsi [Rinpoche] book and all the negative karmas and all the things that can befall you and felt like you were a...

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Four Parts of Karma Mar 03, 2021

There are what are called the four parts of karma. We think of karma as one thing but karma is actually many things. Not only is karma cause but karma is also the effect. They come together. They are interdependent. You can't have a cause without an effect.

The root verb for karma in Sanskrit...

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The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Feb 07, 2021

In the first foundation of mindfulness the benefit or the hallmark is achievement of stability and vividness or pliancy. In the second, you have response flexibility. In the third, you have meta cognitive awareness and in the fourth, you have what we're calling meta cognitive insight. You can...

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Year's End Reflection Dec 31, 2020

My dear friends,

As the new year dawns I offer my reflections on this year we will never forget. 

Despite challenges unseen in a hundred years we remained steadfast together on the gradual path and never faltered a single step. We made no excuses. Wasted no time. We forged ahead in the face...

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