There are a few ways to work with attachment to eating. One very effective way is thinking about what the food looks like after we have chewed it, as it goes through our digestive system, and out the other end. We can also think about its causes, like dirt and... read more
The next verse of the dedication prayer is: “By the merit of this generosity, may the Naga kings, gods having faith in the Dharma, leaders who support religious freedom, benefactors, and others living in the area live long, enjoy good health and prosperity, and attain... read more
The next dedication verse is: “The one who gives, the one who receives, and the generous action are not to be observed as truly existent. By giving with impartiality, may the benefactors attain perfection.” When we dedicate merit, we seal it with emptiness, which... read more
“By the merit of offering food, may they have a good complexion, magnificence, and strength. May they find foods having hundreds of tastes and live with the food of samadhi.” Here we wish that our benefactors be physically attractive, perhaps by practicing fortitude,... read more
After lunch, at the Abbey, we make an offering to the hungry ghosts. We do this because the Buddha promised one mother hungry ghost that his disciples would feed her and her children every day if she would stop stealing human babies to feed to her children. We snap... read more
