I would like to talk about facing tomorrow. In some cases, this could be looking directly into the face of danger – or many dangers. If we’re honest, we just don’t know. And, it’s natural to be frightened when we are unsure of an outcome. But are we ever really sure of a future outcome? … Read the rest
FACING CHAOS
The Way of the Warrior
Facing Chaos – The Way of the Warrior
We live in turbulent times. It sometimes feels like we’re in the apocalypse as scripted by Stephen King. Yet, our challenges don’t seem to be enough. When facing difficulties, we often magnify them, making them seem outsized and uncontrollable by thinking everything … Read the rest
MIND THE GAP
Discovering the S p a c e Around Us
Today we’re discussing “the gap,” a simple yet crucial principle in meditation. This concept relates to the Buddha’s Third Noble Truth—The Cessation of Suffering—which is often discussed as though it were a permanent state. However, one of Buddhism’s core principles, and perhaps a basic aspect of … Read the rest
GIVING PEACE A CHANCE
Remembering John Lennon during the week of his birthday, I wanted to reflect on the third Noble Truth of the Buddha’s teaching—the truth of the cessation of suffering—as a state of peace.
Peace is natural to the mind. As a natural state, the cessation of suffering is readily accessible. However, peace is not a fixed … Read the rest
THE DECISION POINT
Which Way to Go Depends on Where I’m Going
In the past, the inflection points my life have been poorly considered. These junctures were opportunities to directly engage my life, and perhaps steer it into a fruitful direction. However, driven by the anxiety and pressure I always lived under, I’d jump past these moments trying … Read the rest
FUGGETTA BOUT IT
Would Life Be Easier Without Remembering?
Memory is an essential component of how we identify with our lives. Without it, we would lose much of our personal identity and our capacity to navigate the world effectively. Memory is also critical in our development as humans, particularly in forming mental strategies for protection. As we evolved, … Read the rest
YA GOTTA HAVE HEART
The perennial Broadway musical Damn Yankees had a signature song,”You Gotta Have Heart,” which was sung by a group of underdog ball players trying to summon the courage to beat the fearsome Yankees in the big game. It was a beautiful, heartfelt moment in an uplifting musical. The key theme was the connection between heart … Read the rest
The Art of Changing
Say You Want a Revolution?
“You say you want a revolution, well you know, we’d all love to see the plan.”
— John Lennon
We’ve talked about stasis and change: the need to regroup, find a home base, and connect with ourselves. Naturally, this leads to a desire to move beyond that base and … Read the rest
HOME IS WHERE THE HURT IS
And Home is Where the Heart is
From the moment life emerged in that first warm pond, it has been on a continuous quest for safety and growth. While life seeks a safe place to rest, it also repeatedly ventures beyond its comfort zone to explore and evolve. Life has always been challenging, yet resilience … Read the rest
SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER
I would like to introduce the community council. The idea behind this gathering is to create a mindful approach to communication in our lives and within our community. This will also allow awareness of ourselves, which enables progress on our path.
The Power of a Dharma Community: One of the remarkable things about a Dharma … Read the rest