John Tarrant : Articles
Chögyam Trungpa. He described the basic practice as being completely present. And emphasized that it allowed the space for our neuroses to come to the surface. It was not, as he put it, “a vacation from irritation.” He stressed that this basic practice, which is epitomized by the instruction to return again and again to the immediacy of our experie
... See morePema Chodron • Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears
The meditation was making Xuefeng notice the visual oddity of ordinary things, their tendency to tilt into the nonordinary. His friend’s eyes looked beautiful, not quite human, in the dim light. “Well, since you ask, yes, I do worry, I get anxious, my life is going past me like a galloping horse. I get depressed, I don’t feel that I’m of any use. B
... See moreJohn Tarrant • Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life
The safest and most nurturing place to begin working this way is during sitting meditation. On the cushion, we begin to get the hang of not indulging or repressing and of what it feels like to let the energy just be there. That is why it’s so good to meditate every single day and continue to make friends with our hopes and fears again and again. Th
... See morePema Chodron • Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
Here are some rules of thumb that might help you navigate whatever practice you are trying out.
- Criticizing, judging, or assessing yourself isn’t virtue. It doesn’t help in meditation; it’s just more noise. And if you are criticizing, judging, or assessing yourself, don’t criticize that, and so on, until you wear out and compassion enters.
- Criticizin