WELLNESS & HEALTH
Publisher:
Planet Dharma
January 7, 2026
Have you ever felt like you’re running a race but the finish line keeps moving? We live in a world that is faster, louder, and more connected than ever before, yet many of us feel a strange sense of emptiness. We have the gadgets, the apps, and the endless stream of information, but we still struggle with stress, anxiety, and a lack of clear purpose. This feeling isn’t a sign that you are failing; it’s a sign that your soul is asking for something deeper than what modern consumer culture can provide.
At Planet Dharma, we recognize this "spiritual hunger." Our brand is dedicated to bridging the gap between ancient, time-tested wisdom and the messy, beautiful reality of 21st-century life. We don’t believe that spirituality is about escaping the world or sitting on a mountain top. We believe it’s about waking up right in the middle of your job, your relationships, and your daily challenges. To do that, we need a structured path—a way to train the mind and open the heart. This is where the concept of Dharma training becomes life-changing.
Think about anything you’ve ever mastered in your life. Whether it was learning a new language, playing an instrument, or getting in shape, you didn’t just wake up one day and have the skills. You needed a system. You needed a coach. You needed a practice. The inner world is no different. You can’t just "think" your way into peace or "wish" your way into clarity. You have to train for it.
Dharma is a Sanskrit word that has many meanings, but in this context, it refers to the "Truth" or the "Path." It’s the law of how things actually work. When we engage in training, we aren't learning new facts to memorize. We are "un-learning" the habits of ego, fear, and confusion that keep us stuck. We are learning how to see reality as it is, rather than how we want it to be. This kind of work requires commitment, honesty, and a bit of a sense of humor, but the rewards are a sense of freedom and resilience that nothing in the material world can touch.
As we walk the path of training, we often need specific "gateways" to help us focus our energy. One of the most beautiful and effective tools in the Buddhist tradition is the practice of green tara meditation. Tara is known as the "Mother of all Buddhas," and the green form specifically represents active compassion and swift protection.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in "analysis paralysis" or overwhelmed by the problems of the world, Tara is the energy you need. While other forms of meditation might focus on absolute stillness, Tara is often depicted with one foot stepped out of the meditative posture, ready to spring into action. She represents the idea that spiritual growth isn't passive. It’s about being awake and ready to help. When you practice her meditation, you aren't just calming your mind; you are invoking a sense of vitality, courage, and the "swift" ability to overcome obstacles. It’s a practice that grounds you in your own power while connecting you to a deep sense of universal care.
One of the biggest mistakes seekers make is trying to do it all alone. We live in an "I can do it myself" culture, but the spiritual path is too difficult to navigate without support. This is why the Buddha emphasized the "Three Jewels": the Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (the path), and the Sangha (the community).
Joining a dharma class is about finding your tribe. It’s about being in a room—either physical or virtual—with people who are asking the same big questions you are. In a community setting, you get to see your own blind spots reflected in others. You get to hear perspectives that challenge your ego. Most importantly, you get the encouragement to keep going when things get tough. At Planet Dharma, we emphasize that community is where the "rubber meets the road." It’s easy to be spiritual when you’re alone in a room, but can you stay mindful when you’re interacting with a group of people? That’s where the real growth happens.
As we deepen our practice, we eventually have to face the parts of ourselves we’ve been hiding from. This is what we call "Shadow Work." In earlier traditions, this was often framed as the struggle between the "daemon" and the "demon."
The "demon" represents our fears, our traumas, and the voices that tell us we aren't enough. The "daemon" is our inner genius—the guiding spirit that knows our true potential. A major part of our training at Planet Dharma is learning how to tell these two apart. We don't try to "slay" the demons; we try to understand them. Often, a demon is just a daemon that has been misunderstood or suppressed. By bringing these hidden parts into the light of our awareness, we stop being divided against ourselves. We become whole, and that wholeness is the foundation of true spiritual power.
Many people think that to be "serious" about spirituality, you have to leave your life behind. You think you need to quit your job, sell your house, and move to an ashram. But at Planet Dharma, we teach the "Householder Path." This means that your job, your mortgage, your kids, and your laundry are not distractions from your path—they are your path.
If you can’t be mindful while you’re stuck in traffic or dealing with a difficult client, then your meditation isn't working yet. Real training is about taking the clarity you find on the cushion and applying it to how you speak to your partner, how you manage your finances, and how you care for your body. We want you to be the most awake, effective, and compassionate person in your office. We want you to be a "Clear Sky" in a world of storms.
How do we actually bring this into our work? We use the practice of Karma Yoga. Most of us work because we want to get something: money, status, or security. While those things are necessary, if they are our only motivation, we will always be stressed.
Karma Yoga is the art of doing the work for the sake of the work itself. It’s about offering your efforts as a service to others. When you shift your intention from "What can I get?" to "How can I serve?", the quality of your energy changes. You stop being a victim of your circumstances and start being a co-creator of your reality. This shift in intention is a massive part of what we explore in our community classes. It turns a boring 9-to-5 into a sacred offering.
There are thousands of meditation apps and YouTube gurus out there. Why choose Planet Dharma? Our approach is rooted in the "Integral" model. We don't just give you a "calm down" tool; we give you a comprehensive map of the human experience. We combine the deep wisdom of the Vajrayana and Theravada traditions with modern Western psychology and systems thinking.
Our founders, Achariya Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat, have spent decades living and teaching these principles. They don't speak from theory; they speak from lived experience. They know the pitfalls, the shortcuts, and the long-term rewards of this work. When you engage with our brand, you aren't just a "customer"; you are a practitioner entering into a lineage of inquiry and awakening.
One of the most immediate benefits of this kind of training is a massive increase in emotional intelligence. You start to see the "gap" between a stimulus and your response. When someone says something hurtful, instead of immediately lashing back, you have the space to think, "Oh, that’s interesting. I feel anger arising. Where is that coming from?"
That tiny gap is where your freedom lives. It’s where you choose to act with wisdom instead of reacting with habit. Over time, this builds a level of resilience that is unshakable. You realize that you can handle anything life throws at you because you are no longer at the mercy of your emotions. You are the sky, and the emotions are just the weather.
Our relationships are often the most "triggering" parts of our lives. They are also our greatest mirrors. Through structured training and community interaction, we learn how to use our relationships as a vehicle for awakening.
We learn how to listen deeply, without the "me" filter. We learn how to set boundaries that are rooted in love rather than fear. We learn how to support our partners and friends in their growth without trying to control them. This turns our homes into "mini-sanghas"—places where everyone is encouraged to wake up and be their best selves.
In the end, all this training, meditation, and community work lead to one place: a life of meaning. You stop living for the weekend or for the next vacation. You start finding joy in the simple, mundane moments of being alive. You find a "Dharma"—a purpose—that is bigger than yourself.
This doesn't mean you have to save the world (though you might). It means that whatever you do, you do it with a sense of alignment. Your inner world and your outer actions are moving in the same direction. There is no more friction. There is just a sense of "rightness." You are finally who you were always meant to be.
In the Buddhist tradition, we often talk about the continuity of consciousness. Whether you believe in literal reincarnation or you see it as a metaphor for the way our habits repeat themselves, the message is the same: what you do now matters. The seeds you plant today in your mind will become the forest of your future experience.
By choosing to engage in this work today, you are taking responsibility for your own evolution. You are saying "no" to the sleepwalking of modern culture and "yes" to the adventure of awakening. It’s not a path for the faint of heart, but it is the only one that leads to true, lasting satisfaction.
The path to awakening is open to everyone. It doesn't matter what your background is, what you believe, or what you’ve done in the past. The "Clear Sky" of your original mind is always there, waiting behind the clouds of confusion.
We invite you to take the next step. Explore the resources, join a group, and start the practice. Don’t wait for a "better time." The best time to wake up is right now. Your life is a precious opportunity—don't waste it on being half-asleep. Join us at Planet Dharma, and let’s walk this path together.
Consistency. It’s better to do ten minutes of meditation or awareness practice every day than to do three hours once a month. The goal is to "re-wire" your brain, and that requires steady, daily effort.
Because Tara represents "swift" action and protection. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic and overwhelming, the energy of a compassionate mother figure who can help us act decisively is incredibly grounding and empowering.
Absolutely not. At Planet Dharma, we teach universal principles of the mind and heart. While our roots are in the Buddhist tradition, our students come from all walks of life, including those who are secular, religious, or simply curious.
Therapy often focuses on "fixing" the personality or dealing with specific psychological wounds. While that is vital, Dharma training goes a step further by looking at the very nature of the "self" and how to move beyond the limitations of the ego altogether.
Yes! In fact, we specialize in "Householder" practice. We believe that your family life is the perfect place to practice patience, compassion, and presence. Your children and partner are your best teachers!
It’s not hard, but it is different. It requires a willingness to look at yourself with honesty. We provide plenty of introductory resources and a supportive community to help you get started without feeling overwhelmed.
The spiritual life isn't about becoming "perfect" or "holy." It’s about becoming real. It’s about stripping away the masks we wear and finding the courage to live from our true center. Through the discipline of training, the inspiration of Tara, and the support of a community, you can transform your life from a series of reactions into a beautiful, intentional offering. The world needs more awake people—will you be one of them?
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