When people hear the word “buddha” or “buddhism,” what usually comes to mind is the idea of meditation  or mindfulness training  •  but the practice of meditation is so much richer when placed in the broader context of studying or sharpening the mind, and also the context of activities of life  • discipline, meditation and study form a system of checks and balances  •  meditation — taming one’s mind — is the bottom line, but meditation by itself can become spaced-out and dull  •  when we study we are clarifying, questioning, and sharpening our minds  •  a quality of discipline, respect, and persistence underlies both study and practice  •  “grace” from a buddhist perspective is patience, persistence, and endurance