Question: Buddhism as a whole speaks eloquently on issues such as managing suffering and dealing with violence after it has occurred, with forgiveness, acceptance, and letting go. But, in my experience, it has been largely silent on dealing with issues of violence as they are occurring. So, here is my question: In day-to-day society—be it in a business setting, family setting, [...]
How can a Buddhist strive to “save all beings” without inflating their ego?
Question: How can one “take on the suffering of the world” or practice “for the sake of all beings” without also inflating their own sense of self-importance? As profound as these practices are, they also seem like fodder for the ego. Rebecca Li: As an antidote to the pernicious arrogance that gives rise to thoughts like “I’m doing something so selfless—aren’t I great?” we [...]
How do I know if I’m having a moment of realization?
Question: How do I know if I’m having a moment of realization or if I’m just deluding myself (still in ego)? Zenkei Blanche Hartman: I think that if there is an actual experience of reality, if you are seeing just this, as-it-is, you will recognize at once: “Oh, so that’s how it is!” The unmistakable reality of the experience will be clear. The delusion part is any thought [...]
Ask The Teachers: How I should balance practice and study?
Question: I am relatively new to Buddhism (I have been practicing for about a year) and I’ve been struggling with the balance between study and practice. How should I go about setting up a plan of study for myself? How do I decide what I should study when there is so much material out there, and are there things that I absolutely must study before going on to more advanced [...]
Ask the Teachers: How do I know whether to avoid or accept something that causes me distress?
If someone or something causes me distress, how do I judge whether to avoid the situation or to accept it as a practice opportunity, along the lines of an Atisha’s assistant? Dungse Jampal Norbu: The story of Atisha's assistant is a reminder that we can further our practice by accepting difficult situations in our lives. When Atisha was asked why he tolerated his insulting [...]
Ask the Teachers: How do we retain passion while accepting all of life equally?
Question: How do we retain passion in life and still follow the teaching that we should accept all of life with equanimity? Narayan Helen Liebenson: I don’t think there is an inherent conflict between living passionately and living with equanimity. Not only can passion and equanimity coexist, they can work together harmoniously. When I use the word “passion,” I am referring [...]
What’s your “Ask the Teachers” question?
If you’re a Buddhadharma reader, you know about “Ask The Teachers,” in which we pose a question about practice to three teachers from different schools of Buddhism. What is your question? Which teachings do you find particularly challenging or perplexing? Which aspects of the dharma cause uncertainty rather than inspiration? What is your struggle? We want to know. Email [...]
Does my transgender identity conflict with Buddhism’s teachings on no-self?
Q: I was born male, but after many years of confusion, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m actually a transgender woman and I’m now seeking sex-reassignment surgery. As a Buddhist, I feel conflicted by the teachings on no-self and this unshakable feeling that there is a deep, hidden truth about me that I need to express. Am I wrong to embrace this sense of true self? Sallie [...]
Ask the Teachers: How can I accept the suffering of others?
Question: In dharma talks, the causes of suffering are often discussed, as is the cessation of suffering. I have been a Buddhist for about eighteen years, and while I feel I have an understanding and acceptance of the causes of personal suffering, I find it difficult to understand the causes of suffering when we suffer for others. Such suffering is not due to ignorance or [...]
Ask the Teachers: Should I believe the thought that I want a divorce?
I'm not sure I understand the statement, often evoked by Buddhists, “Don't believe everything you think.” How can I know which thoughts to believe? For instance, I seem to constantly have an unbidden thought that I wish I weren't married to my spouse. But then I think, well, I'm a Buddhist, I don't have to believe this thought. Besides, this is not something I would discuss or [...]
