Nothing has spurred me more on my practice than the sudden death of loved ones. Every time I hear an ambulance, or a police siren, or learn about an accident on the highway. I stop and I remind myself: It could have been otherwise, it could have been me.
New Service Launched. Responding to a troubling trend of fake monks panhandling in urban areas, I’m launching a reporting form to develop a fuller picture of where fake monks congregate in New York City. The form is available at upekkhajournal.wordpress.com/report.
I’m curious to try something new. I want to try and turn Upekkha Journal into a digital publication. To do that, I need writing submissions. Upekkha Journal, as a digital publication, would be the Theravada Buddhist equivalent of Lion’s Roar or Tricycle. It would be nonprofit in nature. Now, while I say Theravada Buddhist in nature I cannot stress… Read More Open Call: Writing Submissions
This week, I’m going to recommend The Jhanas by Ajahm Brahm. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn about these subtle states of meditative absorption that, in most Theravadan circles, are understood as being practically prerequisites for enlightenment.
Today was a day of freedom. As a gay man, I go to great lengths to know my history. Back in World War II, gays met each other through the military and then moved to urban areas near bases. In the 1950s, homosexuality was tied to pedophilia and communism: there was even a concept of the… Read More Gay Marriage and Becoming
Today, I went to the beach. The place where I live now has a large bay nearby, and there’s a secluded beach next to a series of creeks where many small snails, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, and blue crabs congregate this time of year. Later in the year, sea robins, moonjellys, and the dreaded red… Read More Sleeping with the Fishes/Meditating with the Crabs
With Each and Every Breath: A Guide to Meditation This dhamma book is a fantastic resource for anyone just starting with meditation or looking to further their meditation. Thanissaro Bhikku, a.k.a. Ajahn Geoff, has a clear and direct writing style that captures the full nuance of what the Buddha taught. Like any good dhamma book,… Read More Dhamma Book of the Week #1
The following meditation instructions are the author’s views only, and the author is not an ordained monk or teacher. If you’re unsure about a meditation technique, consult a meditation teacher or social worker. If you have a history of mental illness, please talk to a doctor, psychologist, social worker, psychiatrist, or other licensed professional before… Read More Meditation 101: Mindfulness of Breathing
In sanghas across America, Buddhists are wondering how best to respond to the #blacklivesmatter movement and the events in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Upekkha Journal 