Many of us were shocked into awareness these last four years by the rapid decline of decency and break down of the rule of law. The day was saved-but just barely. We were awakened to the realization that democracy must be carefully cultivated. We now know this in our bones.
Read MoreWe all have some experience of this depth of wisdom. It’s who we are. A gatha is designed to remind us of who we are and tap into that depth, as we are all prone to forget, over and over. Both beginners and seasoned practitioners need to be reminded of the bigger picture many times a day, regardless of how long we’ve been at this spiritual awakening journey. A gatha can aid in the realization of this purpose.
Read MoreWhen we meditate in the ancient Chinese form of silent illumination we provide a wide-open field of acceptance for our thoughts and feelings. Rather than judge some thoughts as good and others as bad we look without judgement at our thoughts, feelings and sensations. We watch them like watching clouds move through the sky.
Read MoreWe’re all many things. We were all shaped by our early years. Painful and happy, it can all be recycled into a gift of service. It is useful to periodically look back with a more mature eye and with a sense of gratitude for the forces that shaped us into the powers that make us who we are today. None of us got here on our own. As we navigate the last year of this mandatory retreat COVID 19 has offered, it is my greatest wish that you embrace the unique beauty and miracle that you are today-all of you. And that you take a moment, as the new year approaches, to remember who shaped you.
Read MoreThe darkness of impending winter can be beautiful and comforting. It is a time of pregnant hibernation and creative ferment. The slow, warm days of summer don’t ask much of us-the cold requires our attention. This, in the midst of so many stressors, can either be terrible or magical. We need change, and change comes out of the dark womb.
Read MoreI thought I could only find hope during this time of darkness in ancient Buddhist tomes. Yet anything, including a fashion magazine, can lift the weary out of visions of Armageddon by displaying the beauty of the human spirit as it rises from the ashes.
Read MoreThere is poetic beauty in both disciplines of wire walking and meditation. Their simplicity makes them open to all who are willing to put in the effort. They both test the resolve of an individual’s mental focus. They both have us moving through space and time one foot after the other. They both develop gracefulness and confidence.
Read MoreThe emotion of delight has been delegated to the young and the simple minded-or it has been dependent on very specific circumstances, such as a vacation or falling in love. But we human’s hunger for delight. Advertisers are well aware of this hunger and use it to sell us cars, underarm deodorants, kitchen gadgets and loads of other things we don’t really need. They are offering up magic beans, and since we’re hungry for delight we buy the beans.
Read MoreIn this time of tumultuous change we are all called upon to wake up and tend to the mess we humans have made. Like Hui Neng, we do not need to be scholars, and like the person on the road who meets the Buddha we do not need to turn ourselves inside out and follow some culturally uncomfortable path to awakening. We can learn from Hui Neng and know Zen right where we are-right now. Then we can bring that Zen out into the world where it is sorely needed.
Read MoreWe can bemoan what we no longer have or we can make a life out of whatever we have on hand. Everyone has different ingredients in their pantry, everyone is subject to different circumstances and those circumstances are always changing.
Read MoreWe are now in boot camp. Those of you who are new to sheltering in place, welcome to my world. Here are some things I’ve learned about being happy with life as it is:
Read MoreHello from my shelter in place abode to yours. We are now entering our second month of sheltering in place and I imagine the you have gone through many different emotions and states of mind, as have I. I hope that you have found activities that are sustaining you and friends to connect with. It’s so important to find creative ways to share ourselves with others at this time.
Read MoreThose of us who have been on meditation retreats before may feel a familiar sensation as more and more distractions are taken away from us. We can see this as a time for retreat and reflection. It is also a time to be kind to those who are not used to silence and help those less fortunate then we are, in any way that presents itself. But mostly we are called to turn within, let go of distractions and remember our own resourcefulness. It is a time to paint, to dance, to meditate, to cook and to share stories with friends and loved ones, both present and virtual.
Read MoreBe soft in your practice, says Sheng-yen. Change, in ourselves and in society, is messy and does not always happen suddenly or dramatically like a raging waterfall. Sometimes it appears that change isn’t happening at all. But if we are slow and persistent, an undercurrent of change slowly erodes the banks of our human greed and hubris. We can count on impermanence.
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Whether we are training to be architects, nuclear scientists, writers or any thing else, we are well served by a strong foundation. I am forever grateful to Anagarika for giving me a strong foundation in Buddhism. Although I’ve moved away from a strictly Theravadin perspective, her teachings are the bedrock of my understanding and practice.
Read MoreThere is a tradition in Buddhism of honoring the teachers who have helped us see life in a new way. I have been blessed with many great teachers in my life. They continue to be beacons to me as I navigate the waters of living a more awakened life. Some of these teachers I’ve worked with intimately and some only in large halls. But, however close the relationship, all have changed me for the better.
Read MoreToday I’d like to share a very personal story with you. It involves a heated topic that feels quite dangerous to enter into, but that is all the more reason to forge ahead. We are about the business of building a kinder world. In order to do that, we need to reimagine kindness in all areas of life, all situations. There is nothing kinder than how my parents dealt with my pregnancy and abortion when I was 18 years old. This sharing is homage to my parents in hopes of entertaining an atmosphere of warmth for those who are suffering from pain inflicted on them at a time when they are most vulnerable and need to be loved, not shamed.
Read MoreMy dear friend Faith died this last month. She was my vocal coach for about thirty years and we became friends, discussing everything from music to our families to Buddhism. A mutual friend sent a text about her death when I was in Australia. I carried on with my trip, slightly changed, but didn’t really feel her loss until I was preparing for her memorial service in mid September.
Read MoreIt’s much more self-flattering to identify as a victim of another’s anger than to identify with the one who lashes out in anger or takes more then their share. But if we truly, truly wish to awaken, we need to look closely at all our thoughts, not just the ones that make us out to be the hero of our story.
Read MoreAs daughters of the Buddha we are well equipped to deal with the challenges that face us in this age of climate change, xenophobia and materialism. There are many tools our practice provides us with that are helpful during challenging times. Buddhist principles, such as not attaching to outcome, make for a more spacious approach to activism.
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