How to Transform Suffering into an Opportunity for Growth

Here we have more words of wisdom from Robert Emmons. This lesson is on how to transform suffering into an opportunity for growth. He quotes Abraham Maslow, who we heard from recently in The Creative Spirit Of The Self-Actualizer last month. It continues on the gratitude theme from A Gratitude Practice to Increase Happiness from […]

One Thing You Can Do About Mindful Consumption

Here is one thing you can do about mindful consumption: turn off your TV:)! Mindful consumption is the subject of the Fifth of the Five Mindfulness Trainings. It reads, Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by […]

Be Nobody

Here is another poem from William Menza. He is a lay dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Be Nobody Work to be nobody, But a humble unknown sage, Silently helping others, As best as you can. And like a bird Flying through the sky Leave no tracks, no […]

Take Refuge in Yourself

The Buddha teaches us to take refuge in yourself. Taking refuge in yourself gives you the strength to be just as you are, without having to impress anyone else or kowtow to anyone else. You become an island unto yourself. Oneself is one’s own protector (refuge) indeed, What other protector (refuge) can there be? With […]

The Ancient Practice Of Awakening Your Heart with Mindful Breathing

I was surprised to receive an email from Omvana, a product of Mindvalley about the ancient practice of awakening your heart with mindful breathing. The video is from the public talk in Vancouver, Canada in August 14, 2011, after the retreat at the University of British Columbia called Awakening the Heart. I attended the retreat, […]

Second In Command In Plum Village

Sister Chan Khong has been the second in command in Plum Village since its founding in 1982 and been Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh‘s collaborator and best friend for more than 50 years. Now that Thay, as Thich Nhat Hanh is know by his followers, is in the hospital, we are all looking to Sister […]

The Sound of the Bell in Plum Village

This video presents the sound of the bell in Plum Village, the home of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. The images of the trees in the forest of Whittle Dene in Northumberland complement the sound of the bell. In Plum Village, the bell is invited many times during the day. It is invited to awaken […]

We are Here to Awaken from the Illusion of Our Separateness

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (affectionately known as Thay by his followers) says, “We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” This quote appeared in a Tricycle.com article by dharma teacher Wendy Johnson. She is the longest-running writer for Tricycle Magazine. Her articles on gardening appear each month and we have been […]

Anna Halprin Came to Our Shabbat Sangha

Last Friday, Anna Halprin came to our Shabbat Sangha. My good friends, Maryanne and David, open their homes on the first Friday of the month for a group of us to come together and build a community. We gather in the kitchen around 6:45 PM and set out our delicious plates to share with each […]

When Life is Over

Mary Oliver wrote this poem about when life is over. This poem arrived yesterday from Zen Master Cheri Huber in her daily Peace Quote email. When it’s over, I want to say: All my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms – Mary Oliver […]