Enough. What does that even mean? How much is ever enough? In a world where scarcity is a commodity, our panic drives us to fill the larder. If less is more, then more is better and the most is the least you should hope for. My late boomer generation felt the sky was our limit […]
FACING THE MAELSTROM
MONKMODER DOOMSCROLLING Like monks facing the maelstrom, we have may have our best intentions and ethical training. And yet, we may feel paltry and inadequate standing in the face of hatred and conflict. Our society is currently at war. Those who have chosen a side may have the luxury of being determined and clear. […]
BIRD ON A WIRE
I Have Tried in My Way … I have a pet bird. Or perhaps the bird has a pet human, as it seems to have adopted me. We haven’t actually met face to beak, but it sits on a wire outside my window while I’m meditating. It may perch there at other times, and it […]
Foundations of Mindfulness
Remembering to Return Be here and now, they say. Okay. But where the heck is that? Some would claim we’re right here. Sure. But can we see that? Do we feel, touch, live and know that? Maybe mindfulness is remembering that we have no idea where we are. Until we do, that is. Until […]
IT’S ONLY A MOVIE
“Keep telling yourself ‘it’s only a movie‘” was the famous tagline for Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left in 1972. It may be appropriate to look at the harrowing moments of our mind with the same encouraging detachment. No matter how serious life may feel in the moment, like a movie, it’s seeming realism […]
A PRESCRIPTION FOR LIVING
The Foundational Truths Soon after his enlightenment, Buddha gave a teaching that would become the cornerstone of his path we now know as “The Four Noble Truths”. It happened in northern India, in the 5th–4th century BCE, in Deer Park at Sarnath. Newly awakened after years of searching, Buddha was reluctant to proclaim his insight. […]
WHERE DO WE RUN?
Understanding Refuge in Modern Times Ever wish you could just run and hide? Ever play hide and seek with your life because it all becomes too heavy? Do you ever reach for the panic-button in reaction to difficulty? Ever slump in discouragement because it’s all on you, but you just can’t figure it out? Well, […]
THE PASSING
Love may be an eternal flame. But you and I are just sparks. We illuminate the journey and pass into the dark night. We will die. Our great love destined to last forever will pass. The best poems will pass. The Buddha passed and Buddhism will eventually pass. Even the Beatles who’s songs seem […]
CONNECTING TO ORDINARY MAGIC
The Ordinary Magic of Synaptic Receptivity and Connection. As I walk down the street, or through a garden path, as I drive to the store or wander through the park, I become lost in my head, waging battles no one can see. This self obsession creates a moat between me and the life all around […]
MINDFULNESS: A CONVERSATION WITH NOW
Mindfulness is a word that’s used a lot, perhaps overused, which means it has many permutations and applications. Today I want to talk specifically about offering our attention to the present in order to soothe and heal ourselves. I’m not talking about the ruler-on-the-knuckles, look-at-your-homework attention. I’m talking about recognizing the connection we have with […]