The 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.
Read MoreA mom’s dharma needs to take into account getting up in the morning, brushing our teeth making breakfast, strapping the baby onto our chest or getting the kids dressed and fed, and stepping outside the front door, sometimes even before our first cup of coffee. We have errands to run, bills to pay, meals to prepare, and daily decisions to make that impact the lives of our families.
Read MoreConscious aging burns off the small stuff revealing a deeper life purpose. In place of youthful ambition we are left with joy in a crisp apple, a good nights sleep, a maple tree changing colors with the seasons, the warmth of a child curled up on our lap, and the joy of giving back. All the stages we’ve moved through become available to us. We are fresh and creative like a child, experimental and honest like a teenager, productive and in charge like an adult and wise like an elder.
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In this media connected world, awakening to the pain of others can be overwhelming. We can’t bear to see others in pain and not do anything to help them. On my desk are letters soliciting donations from global projects, local food and housing shelters, political campaigns and other worthy causes. All of them are important, but I can’t possibly give money to every cause each time they solicit. So when I sit down to pay my bills I pick one of the causes and write them a check. When my coffers are full I give more and when there is less I give less-but I always give something.
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Whether it’s a few pots by a fire in Burma or a state of the art home in the hills of Los Angeles homemakers take what they have and create a safe space for themselves and their families. Like an artist who faces a blank white page and fills it with the contents of her imagination, homemakers take lifeless, everyday materials and infuse them with livingness, safety and order. Ours is not a celebrated art form, perhaps because of its day in and day out quality, the constant creation and destruction involved, and its mercurial, timeless nature. But it is just as vital as any other art form that infuses the culture with possibility.
Read MoreHow wonderful! How wonderful! Everything is enlightened. All beings and all things are enlightened just as they are.
The Buddha upon seeing the morning star
Each life has its unique challenges and callings. Some are called to make a difference in the world through politics, business and other endeavors outside the home, some are called to make a difference inside the home and other lives are combinations of infinite variety. But the end game is the same-to live a happy life and, hopefully, to make the world a better place for our having been here. This is what we all want, regardless of age, position, education, political leanings or degree of wealth. Spiritual practices throughout the world offer a path aimed at fulfilling this promise.
Read MoreThere are many delights and levels of unfoldment in store for meditators, from physical and mental ease to a deeper understanding of the Universe and our place in it, confidence in our ability to deal with whatever life hands us, the skill to roll with the punches and to find deeper meaning and purpose in life. Through meditation we develop the ability to weave the dry straw of our life into gold.
Read MoreAs 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
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