The tea time conversation this last week turned into a lively discussion of our transient mindstates. Every day, we see our thoughts coming and going, and with them our moods rise and fall. As practitioners encouraged to develop wholesome thoughts and patterns, it’s easy to be confused as to which direction ‘wholesome’ lies in. We […]
Having been in Taiwan on Chinese New Year, I wasn’t sure what to expect here in NYC. Was I going to hear explosions all night? See fireworks? Dancing dragon puppets? Turns out it’s a little more tame here! I did get to learn some new things, though, in talking with the community and putting up
Happy Chinese New Year! Read More »
You’ll be seeing gradual improvements in the format of the www.Upavana.org page over the next few days. While Facebook was the ideal platform for quickly getting news out and piecing together a community, and no monastic looks forward to having to sink into learning website design, given enough time it was bound to happen. Such
The Strength of the Energetic Read More »
Hanging out with Buddhist monastics is not always what one might consider uplifting. The conversation will start amicably enough, the weather or what so-and-so said, but it’s really just a matter of time before it wanders into areas where most casual conversations abruptly die. Aging, sickness, death, and loss. Inevitably, the conversation will move to
Why the Suffering, Mate? Read More »
Dhammapalooza this week with Bhante Jayasāra and Pamutto was a vast collection of chanting, sutta readings, meditation and discussion. You can see the recording here:
Dhammapalooza 2-1-21 Read More »
A brief 360 degree video transporting you to Mt. Zion Cemetary in Brooklyn, NYC. Sitting among generations of the departed, one is close to the heart of what it means to be a human in a transient world.
Cemetary Contemplation Read More »
Vihara Parivara Dhamma’s weekly Sunday morning program. This week’s topic: “Sickness and Health” by Bhante Pamutto. “I am of the nature to sicken, I have not gone beyond sickness.” This is something the Buddha encourages us to reflect upon every day, to develop wisdom into the realities of life. Yet how do we do this,
Sickness and Health Read More »
Lots of gratitude to the generous and devoted community here at Parivara Dhamma. Even in the midst of a blizzard that has otherwise closed the city down, the monks were able to eat and maintain the strength for another day and night of practice. Where better than your local temple to spend a snow day?
Unwavering Support Read More »
Two Sittings a Week Upavana is now doing two virtual meditation settings a week, on Wednesday and Friday at 8 pm EST. Zoom meeting info can be found in the Meditations/Events section.
Two Meditations a Week Read More »
For most of my monastic life, January has been a time of moving inward. Many monastic communities see this as the necessary time for deep retreat; with cold temperatures and long nights the conditions seem perfect for lots of formal practice. So it’s been a pleasant break from the norm to see the birth of
