Tag: buddhism

I didn’t really date in high school, or even college, so I didn’t have to deal with the same temptations my peers did. I was frightened by what my faith community had taught me about sex and romance, so gladly avoided it. I was also in the closet until my 20s.

Buddhist saints are often described as maternally compassionate, with the endless patience of a mother who feeds, cleans and cares for children around the clock. In fact, the Theravada branch of Buddhism holds mothers in such high esteem that two men among the Buddha’s chief disciples, Sariputta and Mogallana, are said to be “like the mother giving birth” and “the nurse raising a child.”

Geshe Dadul Namgyal, an esteemed Buddhist scholar, joined the Abbey as the first male resident teacher. He joins abbess and founder Ven. Thubten Chodron and author Ven. Sangye Khadro as a senior teacher guiding and instructing the monastery’s now 20 monastics.

Sravasti Abbey is holding a retreat for young adults aged 18–29 to explore the faith of Buddhism.  The retreat, which is in its 17th year, is June 9–15 at 692 Country Ln., Newport, Washington and the costs are by donation.

Last year my partner and I bought a house together and for the past nine months have been crossing DIY improvement projects off our list. Doing these projects together is helping us grow as a couple, and I’m grateful, but there’s one task that puts me in a bad mood without fail — painting. I’d rather get a root canal.

Many people find Buddhist practices to calm the mind, open the heart and strengthen ethical conduct to be useful regardless of their religious leanings. Buddhism does not just encourage us to have love, compassion and wisdom; it shows us how to cultivate these qualities.

The Buddha taught we should show compassion to all sentient beings, not just humans. Initially it reminded me of the biblical commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” which tended to focus solely on not killing human beings. Buddhism too, says not to murder, but breaks it down further, explaining that protecting human life is only possible by also protecting anything that lives.