Dharma explorations by Stephanie Noble

From over fifteen years of sharing her understanding of Buddhist concepts

  • Meditation is not a luxury item!

    I just can’t seem to let go of Letting Go! This Paramita, the third on the list, seems so crucial and so central to everything. I think about moving on to the next Paramita, ‘Wisdom’, but see how Letting Go is a at the heart of wisdom. After all, letting go is what we do…

  • Fear, Metta and the Long Goodbye

    Letting Go of Fear At the heart of every difficulty of letting go of anything we find fear, nestled like a snake, always ready to strike or strangle. Whatever object, habit or hindrance we set the intention to release is held tight by our fears. While fear serves us well in certain situations, alerting us…

  • What seems good but causes trouble?

    The answer? Hope. People often find it strange that Buddhist teachings advise against hope. It’s such a positive sounding word. But think of it this way: When I was little I stated proudly that I could swim with an inner tube. How adorable that a little girl thinks she’s swimming when the inner tube is…

  • Got too much stuff?

    I just read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Instant inspiration! Suddenly a third of my wardrobe is bagged and ready to be donated. And it was so easy! Using her method, I didn’t have to get caught up in long inner deliberations. The piece…

  • Can’t get no satisfaction?

    Sometimes right in the middle of a meal, I remember about dessert. Suddenly I can’t taste what I’m eating. My whole focus shifts to desire and the anticipation of something sweet. This may happen even though the meal is tasty and I had been looking forward to it! Sad, huh? But instead of judging it,…