Author Archives: bodhimitta

About bodhimitta

Professionally, I have had several primary careers in life, starting with a dozen years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence field, then some years as an electronics technician in both the civilian and defense industries, and finally computer software, where I have been engaged for about 25 years. My first serious attempt to adopt a spiritual path was in 1987 as a result of life gone awry and an attempt to get myself back on track. This took me to forms of Christianity, with which I did not connect well, and after a few years I left this path. By 2001 I was bitter, demoralized, at odds with the world and everybody in it, including myself. Reaching a breaking point, I again threw myself into an effort to change my life. Being willing to try anything, I investigated several religions, studying their scripture and practicing their ways to one extent or another. Eventually this led to Hinduism and meditation, and seeking meditation training led me to Buddhism where I finally found my spiritual home. My path is born out of suffering and the Buddha speaks to me. I have been committed to a Buddhist path for 10 years, studied the Pali canon for several years under the guidance of a Buddhist teacher, and sat a number of formal Vipassana and concentration meditation retreats and private retreats, the longest being 5 weeks in private retreat. I've made pilgrimage and spent months experiencing the history and culture of Buddhism in several Asian countries. I believe strongly in practice as a part of life and meet several times a week with people who have an ongoing, engaged practice. My experience is that teachers are found in centers, sangha is found in living rooms, and the dhamma is found in life.

I have no quarrel with the world

Posted on September 12, 2010 by bodhimitta

I heard a story that once somebody tried to get Sister Theresa to join their protest against war or some particular violence going on in the world. To their surprise, she declined. Certainly the sister did not support war, they opined, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Doing Buddhism

Posted on September 12, 2010 by bodhimitta

I find my mind gathering much of late around the questions of how I walk this path.  I find great value in intellectual investigation – study of scripture, the query of commentary, discussion with noble friends and exchange of ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Noble words

Posted on August 30, 2010 by bodhimitta

Reading Bhikkhu Bodhi’s article What Does It Mean To Be Enlightened, it occurred to me that the terms awakened, liberated, perfected and nibanna do not all point to the same thing.  There is a difference which can be explained by … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Awakening experience

Posted on August 29, 2010 by bodhimitta

Awakening is the process of becoming awakened. An awakening experience, without an adjective, is a step on a long path – a moment noticed in such a way that it moves me forward one step.  To be awakened? I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Life

Posted on August 29, 2010 by bodhimitta

Life is art that draws itself. I have no greater purpose.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

sammādiṭṭhi

Posted on August 25, 2010 by bodhimitta

A presentation this evening used Stephen Batchelor’s translation of the four noble truths and he translates sammādiṭṭhi as appropriate seeing. It seems that Stephen has a problem with right view as it intimates (by implication in the definition of the words … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Posted on August 22, 2010 by bodhimitta

If I knew it was to be my last meal, why would I eat it?

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Following dots…

Posted on August 20, 2010 by bodhimitta

I was looking up anatta today in a Pali dictionary, wanting to see the root word, which I supposed would be something like atta or a derivative of the Sanskrit word ātman. Turns out, the Pali word is attan, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Innate wisdom

Posted on July 13, 2010 by bodhimitta

Sometimes, people speaking of studying or encountering spiritual teachings say that something rang true to them, as if there is some deep underlying wisdom in their being that they are trying to uncover and that when they encounter teachings that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Purpose

Posted on July 7, 2010 by bodhimitta

I have returned recently from a long vacation enabled by a lack responsible employment and the subject has arisen of finding a gainful undertaking. A friend asked what I want to do and it raised in me the burning question, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment