Spring was a while ago in Michigan and summers usually arrive here in full force, but I want the season to change slowly. It moves too fast. From one day to the next, morning to evening, there are changes in the trees, the flowers, and the grass. Everything sprouts—too fast and…
This past week or so has been very difficult for me with all the news about the war in the Middle East. I imagine it’s the same for you. Thich Nhat Hanh encourages us not to look away from suffering, and at the same time we need to recognize our…
What is a sacred cow? What is the value of our beliefs? How do we know what is unchanging and what is impermanent?
I was vacationing recently in Florida, and we rented a house. After a day of sightseeing, we came back and couldn’t open the door. Our planned evening was turned upside down.
I’ve just celebrated my 2nd anniversary with a new man in my life whom I met online. Being in a relationship again meant I had to make adjustments after years of living alone. My early conditioning urged me to be independent, take care of myself, not to depend on others and to…
I want to talk about why it’s so important to become familiar with our own minds and our own experience. All of our teachers talk about this, but why? Many years ago when I was first starting meditation, when I was practicing in the Vipassana model, I would try to…
A safe space is a place that provides assistance to people in need. When we need a safe space in meditation we’re so caught in our dukkha we can’t find a way to be with it.
We’re hardwired to fear the unknown. But there is another side to uncertainty: the possibilities that open to us. They can hold growth, new ideas, potential. There is freedom in not knowing; a chance to be curious.
Not too long ago, I read an article in the NYT about awe, A-W-E and it’s impact on health. For the past month, I’ve brought the experience of awe into my meditation, exploring it and trying to pay more attention to awe in my walking around life too. There are…
There was a man by the name of Cudapanthaka, who wanted to learn how to meditate. The Buddha heard about him and went to talk with him and hear his story. He then suggested he sweep, just sweep the dust away. Here is my take on this traditional story.