The Four Deep Ego Fears and Transcendence

The Four Deep Ego Fears and Transcendence

By and on June 3rd, 2016

The ego is defenceless in the face of the forces of the universe.  And because inherently it knows that it is born and dies and is therefore inherently unreliable – its mandate is to try to make things fixed and permanent and then to shore up the walls, add...
Six Wisdoms for Going Beyond Yourself

Six Wisdoms for Going Beyond Yourself

By and on May 7th, 2016

Assets Beyond Measure (The Pāramīs) The Adventure of Going Beyond Life is an ongoing adventure. Humanity’s path from ocean to trees to savannah to the internet has been one long journey of “going beyond”. Going beyond our current understanding is what we humans...
Karma Yoga: A Vehicle for Dharma Training

Karma Yoga: A Vehicle for Dharma Training

By on June 5th, 2015

As I am getting ready to leave Clear Sky Retreat Center after being part of the Karma Yoga team, Cata and Sensei discuss with me some of the biggest challenges to maintaining an ongoing practice of Karma Yoga, or meditation in action through service. Their teaching...
Spiritual Healing

Spiritual Healing

By and on August 31st, 2014

Awakening, the great healing. The ongoing, mapped process of awakening is the ultimate spiritual healing. With awakening, the self is transcended, and thus the troubles of the self, of “me,” “my troubles,” are healed. Though any organism is inherently subject to decay...
Kyoto Journal Interview: Moving Into the Stream

Kyoto Journal Interview: Moving Into the Stream

By on March 15th, 2014

An Interview with Dharma Teacher Achariya Doug Duncan on Exploring, Transcending, Surrendering & Awakening. Article by Brendan Joseph Ries, as Published in the Kyoto Journal Online Magazine, February 2014. Download the Kyoto Journal article Click to download...
Awakening: Beyond the Illusion of Self

Awakening: Beyond the Illusion of Self

By and on October 18th, 2013

Quantum physics as well as tradition Buddhist philosophy teach us that nothing in the universe remains the same for even a second. Thus we know that everything we hold and cherish will also pass on and out of our lives, if only at death. This may feel frightening...