Welcome to the softer gaze. My name is Dominique Side. I cover a variety of topics from a Buddhist perspective. Buddhism is not only a religion, and it is not only about meditation practice either, it is a body of wisdom. I am trying to bring Buddhist wisdom to bear on subjects of immediate concern.
My writing on Substack brings together many of the interests I have been pursuing for decades: writing, above all, which has been my main means of self-expression since childhood; philosophy and literature; Buddhism, which I have been studying and practising since I was 24 years old; and a general sense of curiosity and critical inquiry that I try to bring to lots of areas of life.
You may be wondering whether anything qualifies me to write on Buddhist topics other than my own interest in the subject, so here are a few details that might help.
I have been following the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, specifically the Nyingmapa tradition, since 1975 and in 2022 was named a Senior Teacher in Rigpa International by Khandro Rinpoche, the spiritual director of the Lerab Ling retreat centre in France. I have taught at every stage of the path both in person and online. I complemented this activity by going back to university as a mature student and completing a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy in Bristol . I have taught Buddhism in London schools and to teacher trainees.
I wrote a textbook for the World Faiths exam curriculum at AS and A2 (17-18 years) published in 2005 and more recently published Discovering Buddhism, a comprehensive introduction to the history, thought and traditions of Buddhism for a broad public. I also edited two books by the Dalai Lama published by Thorsons: The Four Noble Truths and Transforming the Mind.
For more details visit my personal website: https://dominique-side.com
I happily turned to Substack in April this year as the ideal platform for sharing my writing. I find it such a refreshing site, with so many quality writers, and hope to grow my own audience here while interacting with other communities, too.
Why subscribe to the softer gaze?
Take a break from the busyness of your ordinary mind. Refresh yourself with a few quiet moments of reflective reading. Visit my Substack for a personal take on life that will stimulate and inspire you. See for yourself how Buddhist perpectives can enrich the everyday and support a softer view of life, one that is infused with the Buddha’s compassionate gaze.
The softer gaze is one of a growing number of publications on Substack that feature Buddhist perspectives. Check them out on https://maiaduerr.substack.com/p/dharmastack-is-here
What sets my site apart? I write short topical pieces that are found on the Home page. In addition there are two sections. One is on Buddhist thought largely based on my book Discovering Buddhism, my online course A New Way of Seeing the World and unpublished writings on Buddhist philosophy and psychology. In the other section I post a serialisation of the Memoir I have begun working on. On top of this I do regular podcasts.
I have decided to offer all my work free of charge so you can take out a free subscription and receive everything. At the moment the only part of my site that is for paid subscribers only is the archive. Six weeks after publication my articles and podcasts are archived and behind a paywall. Occasionally I will also allow Comments only for paid subscribers.
The paid subscription options give you a way of supporting my work and my livelihood and expressing your appreciation for what I am doing. Paid subscriptions are voluntary and about your own generosity, which means the karmic benefit will be yours!
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