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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 25

guarantees that each will benefit from contact with cycle of birth, aging, and death — and develops it into
the other. The support of the laity guarantees that pasāda: a confident path to the Deathless. That path
the monastics will not need to be overly concerned includes not only time-proven guidance, but also a social
about food, clothing, and shelter; the gratitude that institution that nurtures it and keeps it alive. These
the monastics inevitably feel for the freely-offered are all things that our society desperately needs. It’s
generosity of the laity helps to keep them from turning a shame that, in our current efforts at mainstreaming
into misfits and misanthropes. At the same time, Buddhism, they are aspects of the Buddhist tradition
contact with the monastics helps the laity foster the usually ignored. We keep forgetting that one source of
proper perspective on life that nurtures the energy of Buddhism’s strength is its ability to keep one foot out
saṃvegaand pasāda they need to keep from becoming of the mainstream, and that the traditional metaphor
dulled and numbed by the materialistic propaganda of for the practice is that it crosses over the stream to
the mainstream economy. the further shore. My hope is that we will begin calling
these things to mind and taking them to heart, so that in
So the Buddhist attitude toward life cultivates saṃvega our drive to find a Buddhism that sells, we don’t end up
— a clear acceptance of the meaninglessness of the selling ourselves short. EH

Skillful speech: Saying

what helps, heals, and

creates happiness

By Dr Roger Walsh

Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. DHL. graduated from Australia’s Queensland
University with degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and
medicine, and then came to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar. He
is now at the University of California at Irvine where he is professor of
psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology, as well as a professor in the
religious studies program.

Roger’s research and writings span several areas. These include the nature of
psychological health and wellbeing, meditation and contemplative practices,
religion and spirituality, wisdom and other virtues, integral studies, and the
psychological roots of our current global crises. He is deeply immersed in
contemplative practices as a student, researcher, and teacher.

Roger’s books include Paths Beyond Ego (one of Common Boundary’s
“Most Influential Books”), Meditation: Classic and Contemporary
Perspectives (“Outstanding Academic Book of the Year Award”), Essential

Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices with a foreword by The Dalai Lama,
and The World of Shamanism. He is currently editing The World’s Great

Wisdom: What Sages Say about Living Wisely and Well.