Zen plays the role of janitor in my religious life, and if my understanding of Zen (pardon the expression) is right, that is a compliment. The Zen I know pulls the rug out from anything I land on as the truth and blissfully blows away dangerous moments of intelligence and understanding.
Too often, we pour the energy needed for recognizing and exploring difference into pretending those differences are insurmountable barriers, or that they do not exist at all. This results in a voluntary isolation, or false and treacherous connections. Either way, we do not develop tools for using human difference as a springboard for creative change within our lives.
To celebrate the redesign of the Enneagram Instrument website, we are offering this excerpt of Point Seven on the enneagram. Habits of Heart and Mind of the Epicure Point Seven on the Enneagram is probably the most optimistic point of all! This is the point of e …
Roshi Joan Halifax talked about compassion when she visited Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 2011. She opened with some words of wisdom from Barry Lopez. He writes about environmental and social concerns. She read a piece of his related to the role of compassion-based eth …
To make life a little better for people less fortunate than you. That’s what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself, but for one’s community.
The joy of living is expressed by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the words we often hear from him in his dharma talk, books and interview: “.” Only as we give the best we have to every passing experience can we hope to enter into the joy of living. Can anyone enjoy a game unl …
Taking joy in the day, at the end of the day — even in the simple fact of the effort we have made — is important. It gives us something positive to carry into the next day, and helps us harness motivation in the service of our intentions.
These Buddhist jokes that will brighten your day were sent to me by an long-time friend, Mr. da Hut. I think they are great! What do you think? 1. Says the Master to his pupil: Do you understand that you dont really exist? Upon which the pupil replies: To …
The self is plastic, a malleable clay being molded each moment by intention. Just as our scientists are discovering not only how the mind is shaped by the brain but now, too, how the brain is shaped by the mind, so the Buddha described long ago the interdependent process by which intentions are conditioned by dispositions and dispositions in turn are conditioned by intentions.
Finding your life’s purpose is all about looking inside yourself for that which you though was out there. Why? Because your purpose is within yourself. Source: 60 Minutes to Finding Your Life’s Purpose: Guided Medita …
In June of this year, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (known as Thay by his followers) opened the 21 day retreat, The Science of the Buddha, with the dharma talk in this video. The talk was given on June 2 in Lower Hamlet in Plum Village. In the opening segment, Tha …
Last May, we learned that gratitude is the secret sauce that puts you immune system back in order according to Dr. Sara Gottfried. You can read more about it in the article, Hormone Tip from Sara Gottfried. Every night for the next week, set asi …