There is a sentence in the Tao Te Ching: the path forward seems to go back. I recently found these pages (below) that I wrote in 23 January 2013 in Los Angeles. As I looked to find pictures of myself during that time, I ran across this picture that I took during a visit to Chicago – Read More –
In 25 magical minutes, Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith (Agape International Center in the City of Angels) describes the four stages of spiritual unfoldment: 1. Victimhood — where you are not touching reality, but rather you’re touching your thoughts about reality 2. Manifestation of visioning — where you do not describe what you see, you see – Read More –
For a table to exist, we need wood, a carpenter, time, skillfulness, and many other causes. And each of these causes needs other causes in order to be. The wood needs the forest, the sunshine, the rain, and so on. The carpenter needs his parents, breakfast, fresh air, and so on. And each of these – Read More –
When I think of gratitude, I’m reminded of this story: There was once a man with one eye who was quite depressed about having only one eye. As he walked down the road, lamenting about his lot in life, he ran across the man with no eyes. The man with one eye was filled with – Read More –
There is a question in my book, Meditative Questions, that always makes me think: What is the source of your unhappiness? Is it your expectations? I think this is a difficult question to face. If we view it from the perspective of our expectations about other people, it can be very easy to blame other people for – Read More –
I had not been to a yoga class in years before yesterday…I’m more of a meditator ;) I think yoga is a beautiful practice, however I find that the studios have the capacity to overheat me! Nonetheless, a friend kindly invited me to attend his class so I went for it. Before the class began, – Read More –
“Change is challenging.” – L.E.E. It is very easy to get “stuck” in familiar routines. We may stay in a job that negatively impacts our health or carry on in a relationship that is a constant struggle because we convince ourselves that the current situation is better than the (imagined worse) alternative. Change can be scary when – Read More –
“When your mind is always completely empty you will have achieved purity. But don’t think about it or you’ll lose it. If you fall into a state of nonpurity again, however, simply pay no attention to it and you will be free once more.” -Zen teaching One of the key beliefs behind my book, Meditative Questions, is – Read More –
A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison. That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of his Zen master came to him, “Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion. The only reality is now.” – Read More –