Many people come to spiritual practice or learn meditation in an effort to induce positive emotional states or to at least minimize negative emotional states. But those feelings of happiness and joy are byproducts of awakening, not the actual awakening itself. The problem is, as long as we chase the byproducts of awakening, we might miss the real thing.

What is Buddhism all about? By way of introduction, I'd like to impart upon you one of the primary Buddhist teachings, the Four Noble Truths. These teachings are purported to be the very first teachings given by the Buddha. They are significant because they give us a simple path toward liberation, or freedom. They represent […]