As a single mass of rock isn’t moved by the wind,
even so all forms, flavors, sounds, aromas, contacts,
ideas desirable and not,
have no effect on one who is such. (AN 6.55)
Essays
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The wonder of intrinsic motivation (2020)
With extrinsic motivation a task is performed in order to achieve some goal outside of the task itself. With intrinsic motivation as task is satisfying and worth pursuing in itself. Psychological research demonstrates a greater degree of satisfaction, meaning, well-being, proficiency, and creativity in association with intrinsic motivation. It is striking how closely this is to a Buddhist understanding of such matters.
What did the Buddha think of women? (2012)
Buddhism is widely known throughout the world as a religion of peace and kindness. It is less known as a religion of gender-equality. This essay examines the status of Buddhist nuns at the time of the Buddha.
Batchelor on the Sangha (2017)
In this review of Stephen Batchelor’s After Buddhism, I focus on what he writes about the Buddhist community, which I find is also the weakest part of his exposition.
What is the Buddha-Sasana? (2020)
Sāsana is a Pali expression that refers to the living Dhamma, that is, to Buddhism in its personal, cultural, social and historical dimensions.
Take Seriously but Hold Loosely (2017)
We take the teachings of Dhamma seriously because each has a practical function that makes a difference in our lives. If we hold Buddha’s teachings loosely, we have license to interpret them in ways that are most meaningful to us.This is how can preserve the integrity of the Dharma without demanding interpretations that will never make sense to us.
As the Wheel Turns (2021)
The subjectivity and insubstantiality characteristic of the Buddha’s early teachings on emptiness seem to have been eclipsed historically, but it seems to have taken two additional major paradigm shifts to restore them. This is the story of the successive arising of the Abhidharma, the Madhyamaka and the Yogācāra.
Theravāda and Mahāyāna Need Each Other (2018)
Geographical isolation has not only cut off Theravāda from Mahāyāna, it also disrupted the ability of each to recover from its respective deficiencies. Mahāyāna became early on a tradition cut off from its past, and Theravāda a tradition cut off from its future.