Death as an AdvisorDeath has an interesting way of waking us up to life. Last week, our cat Mimi was hit by a car and passed away peacefully, suffering a blow to the spine. We miss her little squeaks, affectionate disposition, and even her mischievousness. We’ll miss having to shift around in bed, so as not to disturb her or roll over her (amazing how something less than 10 pounds […]
Buddhism
Becoming Whole: Education and Ecstasy
Seven Principles of Contemplative EducationIn what way do we cultivate the intelligence of the mind, the wisdom of the body, and the knowing of the heart? Where and how do we learn to make well-reasoned, responsible, and ethical decisions? Did you learn this in school? I certainly didn’t. And . . . why not? We must face the facts. They are staring us in the face, with a wrinkled gaze. […]
The Reenchantment of Vision
Opening the Gates of PerceptionWhen I was growing up, we hungered for the sight of the soul—to witness the invisible, slender threads that interweave all things and to search for a connection to the underlying sacredness and mystery of life. Many of us took drugs. A lot of them. I didn’t. I meditated. Either way, we longed for a taste of the infinite. “This is how one ought to see, […]
Spirit of Aloha: His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Hawai‘i
Compassion, Interdependence, Harmony . . . and AlohaIn Hawai‘i, embedded deep within the culture, lies the beauty of the spirit of aloha. In its purest form, the word aloha signifies an abiding love for all living things, including the ‘aina or the land. As you come into the sphere of Hawai‘i nei (beloved Hawai‘i), you feel the aloha spirit as an inner calling towards love, truth, and peace. It is […]
Awakening to What Is
Conscious living in the postmodern worldWhat might it mean to live consciously? On a daily basis and from a variety of sources—articles, books, websites, personal conversations, even media and advertising—we come face to face with evocative yet misleading phrases like conscious eating, conscious relationships, conscious sex, conscious art, conscious work, and more. We have even heard the phrase, conscious consumption. And often, these particular strivings towards consciousness are referred to […]
The Grace of Great Things
What in today’s world ministers our most cherished hope and ideals? Where do we seek—and hope to find—in Rilke’s words, the grace of great things? What brings us inspiration and guidance, and in whom can we trust? Strangely, we have come to ennoble the marketplace itself, honoring the free exchange of goods and services, and now, even of ideas, often canned and predigested for mass consumption. In various forms of […]
Living in the Light
Social Engagement in Spiritual Practice, Art … and LifeAs soon as a plant breaks the surface of the earth, it begins to live in the light, to participate—receive and contribute to and from the complex eco-system that surrounds it. Organic life both gives and takes from its environment. Are we any different? Personal evolution—in the form of contemplative disciplines, creative development, and the search for awakening—takes place in context, in […]
Devotion: Giving and Receiving
With the holidays upon us, we’ve been thinking a great deal about devotion, and what it means to give and to receive. The holidays are meant to invoke feelings of connection, peace, love, and joy. Even so, the streets and shopping centers are wretched with anxiety-ridden consumers. The act of giving has lost its significance as a symbol of love and devotion. Giving can be an act of gratitude, a […]