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Public essays and reflections published from the Gamantra community.
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The Gift of Impermanence
Jun 18, 2026
Impermanence can first appear as loss. And yes, there is loss. Things pass. People change. Bodies age. Moments end. But impermanence is also what allows renewal. Without impermanence, grief would never soften. Anger would never fade. Confusion would never clear. A wound would remain forever raw. A mistake would define…
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Pandora's Box
Jun 8, 2026
In the old Greek myth, Pandora is given a mysterious jar. Later retellings call it a box. She is told not to open it. But curiosity rises. A question forms. A pull begins. The forbidden thing becomes impossible to ignore. And so Pandora opens it. Out rush sorrow, sickness, fear,…
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Exploration
Jun 1, 2026
A child explores before identity hardens. A child touches, tastes, looks, listens, asks. Not always wisely. But openly. Later, the mind becomes decorated with conclusions. I like this. I dislike that. I am this. I am not that. This is beneath me. This is beyond me. This is safe. This…
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The Zen Tea Cup
May 29, 2026
A university professor went to visit a Zen master. Eager to learn about Zen, he spoke at length about his studies, his books, his research, and his accomplishments. The master listened quietly and then invited him to share a cup of tea. As they sat together, the master began pouring…
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The Mustard Seed
May 26, 2026
The Mustard Seed A young woman named Kisa Gotami lost her only child. Grief consumed her, and she carried the child from house to house begging for medicine that could bring him back. Someone finally sent her to the Buddha. He told her, gently, “Bring me a mustard seed from…
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The Norse World Tree
May 14, 2026
In Norse tradition, there is a great tree called Yggdrasil. A vast world tree. Its roots reach deep. Its branches stretch wide. And through it, different worlds are held together. Gods, humans, mystery, struggle, fate, life, death — not separate, but connected. What a powerful image. A tree that does…
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The Woman Who Fell from the Sky
May 13, 2026
In an old Haudenosaunee creation story, a woman falls from the Sky World. Below her, there is no land. Only water. As she falls, birds rise to meet her. They soften her descent. The animals gather. They see she needs a place to rest. One by one, they try to…
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Impermanence Within
May 12, 2026
So far, it is easy to speak about change outside. The seasons change. The body changes. Relationships change. Circumstances change. But what about within? What about our ideas? Our beliefs? Our opinions? Our perceptions? What about the idea of who we are? The great question, “Who am I?” is often…
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Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as a story about illusion
May 11, 2026
A group of people are chained inside a cave. They have lived there their whole lives. Behind them is a fire. In front of them is a wall. Objects pass behind them, casting shadows on the wall. And because the prisoners have never seen anything else, they believe the shadows…
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Narrative Addiction - The Story That Forms
May 9, 2026
Low tide shoreline — Words gather into meaning. Silence left behind. Something happens. A message arrives. A glance is exchanged. A plan changes. The moment itself is simple. But almost instantly, something else begins. A layer forms. A story. Not slowly. Not deliberately. Automatically. “They meant this." ”This is going…
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