The Mind Illuminated [pdf]

2/24/2026 at 7:13:08 AM

This is all about the benefits of mindfulness, which are well known, and concludes with a discussion of how we construct reality and cling to things in a world which is nothing but change, that is, everything is process. Turning around the usual assumptions leads to a different outlook, which can improve one's quality of life substantially, and relationship with others as well.

This is entirely within the Hinayana tradition (use of Pali and so on) and there is, IMO, zero "spiritual" content in it.

Some Buddhists take on symbolic names. Many if not most western names are derived from previous spiritual, historic and mythological names. Mine is. Is yours?

Power and hierarchy almost always corrupt. My own group has no robes, no priests and no temples. Hypocrisy is rampant in every hierarchy because it's so hard for people to use power to serve others without crossing that "golden rule" line. The rarest substance on earth is humility.

by k310

2/24/2026 at 5:06:14 AM

I listed to this audiobook several years ago, and while it intrigued me to an extent, I had a hard time getting past the fact that the guy (who is an American white guy), calls himself "Culadasa".

I also found it troubling to try to take spiritual advice, no matter how practical, from someone who had been married and divorced multiple times.

More recently, he's been accused of inappropriate behaviors and was blackballed from some of the spiritual/meditation organizations he was a part of.

Perhaps it's my evangelical upbringing that has made me hardened and highly suspect of anyone trying to lead people in a spiritual way, but unfortunately I feel like I just keep getting proven right over and over again.

by locusofself

2/24/2026 at 9:00:52 AM

Man, just do the practices.

There is no ethical teaching from a high pedestal in this book. This book teaches a practical meditation technique.

Practice it enough, you will start seeing minor benefits.

by __rito__

2/24/2026 at 9:46:52 AM

He never was a "spiritual leader". He was a med school professor. He had been ordained as a _upāsaka_, a lay Buddhist disciple, meaning he took the vow of following the five precepts and he was given this name by the people who ordained him, that's not a weird thing. He later was removed from the board of the meditation center he co-founded because he broke the precepts (adultery and lying about it to his wife, hardly a criminal)[1], so he was prohibited from teaching things. He died recently from cancer[2].

His approach in the book, which seems still taught at that center, probably because it's excellent, was to lay out a path for meditation practice that was inspired from classic Buddhist writings, but presented and explained with modern neuroscience.

Getting advice from a divorced guy doesn't look great, but thankfully there are many more role models to look up to, and (early) Buddhism requires very little faith and demands that you verify the teachings by yourself anyway.

[1] https://engagedharma.net/2019/08/19/culadasa-charged-with-se... [2] https://culadasa.com/

by oinj

2/25/2026 at 12:16:48 AM

To be clear I'm not saying being divorced is a failing. But he has now been married 3 times, and has admitted to having extramarital affairs with prostitutes, as well as "supporting" them financially.

by locusofself

2/24/2026 at 8:58:55 AM

Legit amazing book. Changed my outlook and life.

Will highly recommend. Will benefit everyone. Will work wonders for the right persons.

by __rito__