Read: Dharma Articles Library
What are the Western Mysteries?
Western culture has its own traditions of spirituality and transcendence. These can be called the Western, or Divine Mysteries. What are these mysteries and why did they go underground? How can you practice and explore their message of united consciousness?
Taking the Plunge: Courage to Change
When we know that something isn’t working, and we’ve tried everything you can think of and it still isn’t working, are we ready to risk the unknown and truly make a change?
Killing Me Softly
For many years I thought meditation was about “feeling good”. And by integrating the focus on spacious emptiness, meditation came to life. It is now more like a journey. And yes, it still feels good, but it is not about the “good feeling”. It is about the journey. The constant changes are happening. There is no ground to stand on.
Do I Have To? Heeding your Calling
What we say ‘I have to’ to is our path to awakeness. It is the ‘voice’ of the daemon, our inner guide, pressing us to grow and unfold into what we can and should become. Everybody has this voice in their being, the question is whether one is listening or not.
Video: If you want the present, you have to open the box
The present – the here-and-now – is a wonderful toy. But we have to get out of the burning house to untie the ribbon, tear off the pretty paper, and open the box! Doug shares how we can do this, and enjoy doing it, during our busy modern lives. Nothing less than spiritual awakening is the inevitable result. This video was filmed live at Watkins Books, London’s oldest estoeric bookshop.
The Four Deep Ego Fears and Transcendence
The four deep fears of the ego mean we fixate on objects to shore up solidity in our lives. But if objects don’t really make us happy then what does? The Buddha is offering us a present. To get the present we must come outside of the burning house of the ego and open the box. What we find inside is freedom.
Five Steps to a Successful & Integrated Life
Would you like to live a successful and integrated life?
Doug & Catherine Sensei explain how true personal success originates in spiritual success. While worldly success seems desirable, without spiritual wealth it doesn’t produce sustainable happiness. In the spiritual life we train at recognizing spaciousness, the Clear Sky, and act with skills developed in training from there to serve our communities.
Keys to Transformation: Integrating the Shadow
Integrating our shadow may be the fastest way to unfold spiritually, and reduce our suffering. By its very nature, shadow work is not fun or pretty. It takes courage and fortitude. Once we decide to change, the shadow’s darkness moves towards greater and greater light. That is both beautiful and exciting.
Video: Studying the Dharma – What it Takes
Dharma Teachers Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are asked in this video what expectations they have of committed students, what expectations a student should have of a Dharma teacher, and what they recommend if someone is interested in studying with them.