Letter to the Hearth community
Dear Hearth family,
As 2018 comes to a close I want to take this opportunity to let you know how much I appreciate you and all you do for your family and community. I know you have a lot on your plate and that taking time for your spiritual practice can be challenging at times. As the New Year approaches I deepen my resolve to listen to your needs and support you in meeting your practice goals.
I am grateful to have found the form of service that best suits my skills and limitations. A dharma nerd like me could not ask for more! I wish the same for you. We are all important pieces of this complex human puzzle. There is so much to be done to love and protect this planet and all the sentient beings on it. May you find your own unique form of service and everything needed to come fully into your power.
Last year we focused on bringing our practice into the world. This next year I’d like to focus on developing and supporting your home practice. That includes meditation as well as, what in Zen are called the paramitas, or perfections-giving, ethical behavior, forbearance, energy, wisdom, focused meditation, intention, spiritual power and knowledge. We will explore practice both on and off the pillow. It’s not easy to keep a practice going in the midst of our busy lives. We all need support with this. I hope to inspire you by conveying the great benefits conferred on those who make a commitment to their spiritual growth. I honestly don’t know what my life would look like had I not had the blessing of spiritual practices to see me through the rough times. I think I would have been quite unhappy and lost.
As we enter the dark days of winter may you be cozy and warm enjoying the company of the ones you love. May this crazy world somehow make sense to you even when we don’t fully understand why things are the way they are. May you find your special place in the scheme of things and may your talents flourish. May we become even closer in this unwritten time and space to come.
With much love,
Jacqueline