this winter morning light spilling everywhere into the silence (photo by josh)

Tara: In Tibetan Buddhism, Tara is a female bodhisattva and goddess of mercy who represents compassion, success, and achievement. She is also known as the "mother of liberation"

Close your eyes and you will see clearly. Cease to listen and you will hear the truth. Be silent and your heart will sing. Seek no contact and you will find union. Be still and you will move forward on the tide of the spirit. 🪷 🪷 🪷 -Jianzhi Sengcan, Zen Patriarch #buddhism #zen #meditation

Silence is not empty; it is full of answers. When the mind settles, wisdom arises. When the water of the mind settles, we can see things clearly. What truth do you hear in the quiet?

The morning sun rises without hesitation, offering a fresh start to us all. Breathe deeply, smile gently, and step forward into the new day with compassion and equanimity. #buddhism #zen #morningmotivation #namaste

The seeds of karma we plant in this life—our intentions, actions, and thoughts—shape the soil of our next. Karma is not punishment or reward, but the natural unfolding of cause and effect. Walk with wisdom, sow with kindness. #Karma #Rebirth

Even after Awakening, the dishes still need washing, the laundry needs doing, and the cat still needs to be fed. Liberation is not an escape from life. Liberation is meeting each moment fully, with clarity and ease. #zen #buddhism #nirvanna #nibanna #liberation

Vimalakirti Sutra “A straightforward mind is the place of awakening."

"I have died and have been reborn, Brand new like a baby with breath Still fragrant of mother’s milk. There is laughter in each discovering step. I have returned to be the child of earth and sky, Full of wildflowers and dancing grass." An excerpt of Rebirth by Sister Dang Nghiem

The lotus blooms in muddy water, untouched by its surroundings. Similarly, we can rise above challenges, staying grounded in our true nature, no matter the chaos that may surround us.

"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." — Ajahn Brahm #buddhism #buddha

Buddhist cosmology sees the universe as cyclical, with three realms shaped by karma: the Desire Realm (sensory craving), the Form Realm (refined mental states), and the Formless Realm (pure mental states). This highlights impermanence and the path to liberation from samsara through enlightenment.

Wherever you are, enlightenment is there ~ Shunryu Suzuki https://justdharma.org/wherever-you-are-enlightenment-is-there-shunryu-suzuki/ #ShunryuSuzuki #enlightenment #practice

When we eat, we must mindfully: savoring each bite, appreciating the effort behind the meal, and recognizing its purpose to nourish the body and support our journey. Simplicity and gratitude are key.

"Bodhisattva practitioners do not see all the suffering beings as 'other' or separate. We are all in this together. What are the implications of this for modern practitioners amid the many challenges we now face?"

Our past lives are like chapters in a book we have been writing across time. Each chapter shapes the next, but the story is always evolving. What you write today defines the future pages. #Mindfulness #Karma

When your heart aches with worry for your child, let your love guide you, not your fear. In each moment, your presence is the greatest comfort you can offer—steady, warm, and full of hope.

Nagarjuna teaches us: "Things derive their being and nature by mutual dependence and are nothing in themselves." Emptiness is not nothingness; it is the absence of inherent existence.

"The mind is like a mirror; it reflects everything but is attached to nothing. Let no dust cling to it." -Huineng

A monk, chased by a fierce tiger, arrives upon a cliff, he clings to a vine as he tries to flee. Another tiger waits below, and mice gnaw at the vine. He spots a strawberry and eats it. "How sweet it tastes," he says. The only thing is present moment, no matter how hard we cling to our vines.

The Buddha replied: "All I teach is suffering, and the end of suffering." #buddhism #zen #buddha

Angulimala, a ruthless bandit, chased the Buddha, but couldn’t catch him. The Buddha said, “I’ve stopped harming others—when will you?” Struck by compassion, Angulimala renounced violence, became a monk, and found enlightenment. No one is beyond redemption.

Anicca: Everything is impermanent—emotions, possessions, even ourselves. Clinging to permanence brings suffering. Notice what you’re holding onto today and soften your grip. Peace is found by letting go. #Buddhism #mindfulness #grief

A student begged the monk Bodhidharma, "Master, pacify my mind." Bodhidharma replied,"Bring me your mind, and I will pacify it." The student searched in vain,"I cannot find it." Bodhidharma answered,"There, I've pacified it." Peace arises as the illusion of a fixed mind fades #buddhism #zen

This present moment is incomparable because it is the only ever moment that presently is: This present moment as it actually is There just is no other right now

Understanding śūnyatā helps us let go of rigid attachments and labels. We often cling to the idea that things are solid and unchanging—like our sense of self, our relationships, and our possessions. Realizing that these are all subject to impermanence and yet are interconnected reduces suffering.

"We live in different bodies, we’ve had different childhoods, and at any given moment our thoughts and feelings are likely to differ from anybody else’s, even those of our nearest and dearest." —Christopher K. Germer

Upekkha in the face of challenges, metta in your heart, and viriya in your actions—live the Dhamma today. Progress isn’t linear, but the path is always there. #MorningMotivation #Buddhism #reset

In the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra), it is said that all beings possess the potential for enlightenment. All beings may follow the 'One Vehicle' (Ekayana) which unifies all paths, leading toward Buddhahood. Liberation is universal.

I take refuge in the Sangha

"All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill" -Dhammapada Chapter 10 Verse 129

"Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta" May all beings be happy.

The teaching of Dependent Origination (Paṭicca-Samuppāda) reveals how all phenomena arise from causes and condition. Nothing arises on its own. The cycle of samsāra flows through interdependence. Ignorance and craving fuel the cycle, while wisdom can break it, leading to liberation.

"You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep Spring from coming.' -Pablo Neruda

A cold morning is a chance to see and feel your breath rise like smoke and remember: warmth comes not just from outside but from the kindness we carry within. Namo Buddhaya 🙏🏼☸️📿

Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum

Nibbāna is the ultimate peace and freedom: the end of greed, hatred, and delusion, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It’s not a place but the unconditioned state beyond suffering and samsara. #nirvana #buddhism #peace

"The Buddha was interested in this one and only problem: human suffering and death, and how to overcome them." — Walpola Rahula #buddha #dharma #sangha

Life is uncomfortable. It’s just a fact. The Buddhists call this Dukkha, meaning “unsatisfactoriness.” Instead of reacting to it and chasing pleasure, the Dhamma teaches us to stay present with Dukkha and realize its impermanence— in turn, liberating ourselves from it. #philosophy

Worry arises from clinging to control and certainty—attachments that only bring suffering. Let go, be mindful, and ground yourself in the present moment. Peace lives here and now, not in the "what ifs" of life. #Mindfulness #LetGo #buddhism #zen

"To let go does not mean to get rid of. To let go means to let be. When we let be with compassion, things come and go on their own." -Jack Kornfield #buddhism #lettinggo

Emptiness is not absence; it's fullness without boundaries. Every moment is infinite. #buddhism #meditation

Anger is like a passing storm—temporary yet powerful. Pause, breathe, and observe it without reacting. Reflect on impermanence, practice compassion, and treat yourself kindly. By staying present, you create space to transform anger into understanding and peace.

When life feels overwhelming, pause. Take a breath. Recognize the moment for what it is—a passing wave, not the whole ocean. Steady yourself, and let it flow.

Thich Nhat Hanh on Abidharma: "When we meditate, we practice looking deeply in order to bring light and clarity into our way of seeing things. When the vision of no-self is obtained, our delusion is removed. This is what we call transformation."

Each morning offers a fresh start, a quiet moment to ground yourself. Breathe, be present, and let the day unfold with intention. 🧘🏿‍♀️🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏽☸️ #mindfulness #buddhism #MorningMotivation

Peace isn't found in a faraway place—it starts within. What practices do you have that help you cultivate inner calm? #mindfulness #peace

'Yashima in Summer' - Okumura Koichi, 1952. #JapaneseArt #shinhanga

A person once asked Ajahn Chah: "How can you be happy in a world of impermanence?" Holding a glass, Ajahn Chah replied: "This glass holds water, glistens, rings when touched. One day, it may break. To me, it's already broken, so I enjoy it fully." Happiness lies in embracing impermanence.