Stories are powerful. When I stop and pay attention, I realize that stories are running through my head all the time! Stories about the world around me, stories about myself, stories that replay past events, stories that rehearse something yet to come. What is the flavor of these stories? Are they hopeful? fearful? angry? loving? … Continue reading Stories We Tell Ourselves
I don’t know what your life is like right now. Is it full of joy and excitement? Is it full of sorrow and despair? Anxiety and overwhelm? Our theme this month is presence. Can we be present with whatever is there? How do we do that? Do we even want to do that? I’d like … Continue reading Presence
This week I would like to share a post from Abbot Tenzin David Zimmerman of the San Francisco Zen Center. I tried so hard to speak on this month’s theme of “Repair.” I just couldn’t do it. It presupposes that something is broken. And broken things get fixed or tossed. And it’s so hard to … Continue reading How to Be in This World at This Time
One of the five basic Buddhist precepts is to refrain from harsh or untruthful speech. Thich Nhat Hanh offers a Mindfulness Training on this topic that includes both speaking and listening. I would like to share this very rich Training, and explore its various aspects, looking at practical ways to apply them in our daily … Continue reading Loving Speech and Deep Listening
Today I would like to offer a guided meditation based on the Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing. It is a gentle practice that moves smoothly from attention on the breath, to the body, to physical feelings, to mental/emotional feelings. This is a meditation practice I use nearly every day. It is a practice … Continue reading The Invitation to Explore Breath, Body & Feelings
What is the Order of Interbeing anyway? (Hint: it has something to do with Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh.) Who would want to join such a thing? What do you have to do to join it? What is different in your life if you do? I would like to share my experiences in finding … Continue reading The Order of Interbeing
Do you remember Aesop’s Fables, those children’s stories that always had a moral at the end? I remember the moral of The Boy Who Cried Wolf as “Don’t tell lies.” What if we looked at this story through a Buddhist lens? What lessons could we learn? I found at least six lessons hidden in the two … Continue reading Buddha Meets the Boy Who Cried Wolf
Beginning Anew is not to ask for forgiveness. Beginning Anew is to change your mind and heart, to transform the ignorance within and to help cultivate the mind of love. I will read Thich Nhat Hanh’s own words from his book, Teachings on Love (1998) and then share some of the ways that I have used this … Continue reading Beginning Anew
Have you seen those bumper stickers that spell out “co-exist” with a bunch of religious and spiritual symbols? I really like them! I like the idea that it’s possible for two or more religions, groups or principles to co-exist in some kind of peaceful balance. My question is: how do we make that kind of … Continue reading Training in Co-existence
Our theme this month is interdependence. Wonderful! Savoring a warm beverage is a lovely way to experience interdependence. I am excited to offer a Tea Ceremony with guided meditation to help us along. Tea Ceremony is never the same twice, and always perfect! Please help the ceremony to run smoothly by getting a cup of … Continue reading Tea Meditation Ceremony
