Most Recent Post – Page 27 – Alana's Dharma Blog

The Painfully Paralyzing Paranoia Period (Say that 10 Times Fast)

May 27, 2016 alana Comments 0 Comment

So If you will bear with another prelude…when I first came to this practice I suffered from extreme, almost crippling anxiety. I was afraid of almost everything, though disease, death, injury and abandonment certainly topped my list. It quickly became clear that without addressing my fear and the views that underlay it, I just wasn’t going to get anywhere. After all..extreme anxiety is not exactly a clear headed place from which to contemplate. Looking back now however, I can see how much…

The Story that Launched My Practice…Homeless Alana

May 17, 2016 alana Comments 2 comments

I was a few days into my first KPY retreat and I was still on the fence about whether or not this approach was for me. I had quietly listened as other folks shared stories from their lives and the realizations they had achieved when they examined their experiences from a correct viewpoint. I still don’t know what persuaded me to finally speak. But I did. I raised my hand and tearfully shared a story that had caused me a…

A Prelude to This Blog — AKA How I Went from Dhamma Hermit to Dhamma Blogger in ‘Just’ 5 Years

May 17, 2016 alana Comments 0 Comment

So, Neecha and Phra Anan actually asked me to start this blog years ago (2011). At first I said yes (because who wants to disappoint their teachers?) but then…on second thought…no. Neecha told me, “We just get so excited about your practice because it progresses naturally and your examples are so clear that we want others to see how it can be done”. But honestly, I just didn’t think I was someone worthy of writing a blog about Buddhism. I…