Pressure and Procrastination as (Poor) Coping Strategies
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THE POWER OF HUMILITY The word humility conjures the idea of humiliation. This judgement stems from a defensive ego-mind that sees any diminishment to its powers as a threat. If we quiet the shouting and listen, are we giving up ground that can allow the enemy to advance? But what enemy is that, exactly? The […]
THE NEXT STEP I was waiting at the top of the steps leading down to the front door at Gampo Abbey Monastery. It was a typically cold wet March Nova Scotia morning. A number of us had been lined up waiting in the rain for some time. Finally, we got the call that Sakyong Mipham was […]
CHARIOTS OF DISAPPOINTMENT Pema Chodron tells the story of a wedding that was officiated by Chogyam Trungpa. Trungpa often used a Japanese hand fan during his talks. And in this instance, as the couple were kneeled before him he hit the would be groom on the head with the fan and said, “pain is […]
These are frightening times. It would be reasonable to want to run and hide. But, there is an alternative. That alternative is not our usual strategies. It’s not stand and fight. It’s not medicate our way past it. It’s not checking out till someone else handles it. The way out is the way in. It […]
The adage ‘be here now’ has currently taken on profound meaning. Here in this viral age we are forced into a very practical interpretation of now. Remembering what was, even a month ago, can be unspeakably sad. Any realistic look at the future makes us anxious and depressed. ‘How long will this last? And what […]
It’s like the song says, “waking up is hard to do.” Or maybe that was breaking up. In either case, the process is as painful as it is necessary. It’s about change. And who doesn’t love to hate change? Growing hurts. This is why the teachings of the Buddha begin with the Truth of Suffering. […]
We are not always healthy. We are sometimes broken and easily triggered. We are sometimes depleted and feel we need to fix something, add something, change something or devour anything. What is actually devoured is our capacity to satisfy our needs. The more our wants cannibalize our needs, the more our wanting becomes an obsession. […]
The cessation of suffering is a possibility on the path of awakening. It is a continuously occurring experience that indicated that suffering is not permanent or solid. A classically western application is to take any statement to its extreme, as though the cessation of suffering indicated a permanent solution, a rainbow at the end of […]
MEDITATION? REALLY? Meditation means many things, even if some definitions seem contradictory. We might ‘meditate’ on a decision, which would imply deep thinking. Or, we might let go of thoughts in meditation, which implies a clear state free of mental constructs. And there are just as many reasons why we might do this. Some people […]