I suffer from my cultural American upbringing. "you have to have a house,bachelors degree, family, and a good job to be successful." it's still in me its a cultural brainwashing. But that's all trying to be somebody it's arrogance. Who are you doing all that for? Im 39 I live with my paren...

So it's a matter of maturation within the noble 8 fold path someone following the noble 8 fold path still has thoughts of renunciation goodwill compassion right speech right action right livelihood right effort and right concentration. Is it more about what your goal is when you take up the practice...

I just read majjhima nikaya 117, it seems like there is an 8 fold path with effluents siding with merit and a noble 8 fold path that is transcendent. What makes them different?

Studying the nikayas is a good way to create a healthy mental culture. As opposed to what societies tell us is good. Buddha tells us what is good. And we can reflect on the Teachings and how it is the truth of things. Then in daily life we can go about our day and when issues comes up we can remembe...

Kudos. More simplicity in buddhism. Everything is Annica Dukkha Annata, and be kind.

This is what I don't understand also. how can good thoughts, generosity, good speech be not self if they accumulate into well being. Goodness builds up. So how can it be impermanent? If goodness were permanent, why is there a need to build it up? If things can be accumulated, are they permanent or ...

How can Annica Dukkha Annata exists with kamma vipaka? Unless seeing the three characteristics stops kamma from being created??

This is what I don't understand also. how can good thoughts, generosity, good speech be not self if they accumulate into well being. Goodness builds up. So how can it be impermanent?

Sex and good food literal food are a huge source of greed not sure if they are the strongest types of greed maybe rebirth in immaterial realms is. Repulsiveness of food is a common theme in the suttas. you can eat with greed or without greed. Eating with greed is wolfing down your meal because it's ...

i googled unconditional love, and it said everyone makes mistakes and has flaws. this was a big eye opener for me, if everyone makes mistakes, non arahants, then you can still love people despite their mistakes. mistakes and flaws are part of everyone. unconditional love takes practice and patience ...

is kamma vipaka always about your next life?

Tons of my anxiety goes away too when I spend 30 45 minutes in nature. The trick is to be aware of what your seeing hearing smelling feeling. The plants give off healing chemicals or something it's called forest bathing. Or the nature pill. I got a book on it it's a little different than mindfulness...

Try replacing marijuana with a wholesome activity like reading suttas, exercize, practicing charity or start slowly with a mindfulness meditation. I'm trying to quit smoking cigarettes too I find it helps to roll your own to taper off real cigarettes, rolled cigarettes have less addictive quality in...

The late thich nhat hanh teaches original buddhism through a Mahayana lens he calls it. It's good stuff. Not complicated.