June 27, 2015

RACIAL EQUALITY

Racial inequality is so difficult for me to understand.

From my perspective, we all come from the same Source. Just as the red rose and pink rose are both beautiful, it baffles me that some might passionately argue that one is somehow better (or more beautiful) than the other.

The senseless violence that continues, even today, in particular against men, women, and children of color does not operate from this same understanding. The persons committing these horrible acts of violence do not recognize that they are killing themselves.

This morning, I went to church with (Reverend) President Obama and listened to his amazing eulogy of Reverend Pinckney. The speech is beautifully done, and President Obama reminds us that, “Justice grows out of a recognition of ourselves in each other. My freedom depends on you being free too.”

May we all love unconditionally and without regard to race. May we recognize ourselves in each other. May we know that we are all created from the same Source, and live and love in that understanding.

June 26, 2015

OPTIONS

The world is vast. Our perception is so often limited.

Having options is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it can be overwhelming.

Should I stay or go? Should I invest in this or that? Will this decision result in a loss or gain?

If we first take a breath and then take a step back, we can begin to gain some perspective. While we may feel responsibility for the decision, this is a weight we were never meant to carry.

We only ever have one decision before us at a time. If we can allow ourselves to relax and be in flow, each decision will be made in its time. And for our highest good.

In the meantime (we are always in the meantime haha), we should do whatever makes our hearts sing! And whatever makes us feel free.

Personally, I’m inspired to take a walk ;)

 

Photo source: Mistaya Canyon (Banff National Park) by Atanu Bandyopadhyay

June 8, 2015

TETRIS

This morning I woke up and wanted to play Tetris (the 80’s video puzzle game), so I did.  As I played, I felt in control of the process. The tiles fell and I quickly put them in place. I breezed through the first eight levels. Even if I misplaced a piece, I had time to fix it by organizing other pieces around it.

But then, around level nine, I started making more mistakes. The pieces were falling too fast! I had huge gaps within the puzzle. The game quickly started getting out of control. Amazingly, I found some way to fix the mess. I felt accomplished…like I really did something.

Just as I got comfortable, the pieces started really flying around level twelve and a few misplaced pieces meant disaster. The pieces started piling really high, really fast. But I was determined. My heart rate increased a bit as the music got faster. I still managed to make a few lines as the pieces piled all the way to the top. And then it was over.

Thank goodness it was just a game ;)

 

Photo source: Tetris

May 30, 2015

DEFENSE

Defense is the first act of war. 

Byron Katie shared this wisdom and I think it’s true. As soon as we become defensive, it seems that we invite conflict. I find that I have these moments when I try to create boundaries.  Now if I was being like water and letting things flow naturally, this probably wouldn’t be necessary…but things are what they are ;)

When we are playing defense, it does give us a true glimpse into how the other person responds. Do they escalate the situation or diffuse it? Do they help you to see the humor in the situation, or does it become extremely serious? This will help identify where the person is on their journey. No judgement here…we are all works in progress :)

As we notice these patterns in ourselves and others, we can move toward grace and love. If a person is responding with hostility and anger, they may be dealing with a lot of pain that is overflowing. How can we become more compassionate and allow that person the opportunity to heal? If we are responding with hostility and anger, we may be dealing with a lot of pain that is overflowing. How can we become more compassionate toward ourselves and allow ourselves the opportunity to heal?

I’ve sometimes caught myself saying, “Pick your battles” as a way to de-prioritize a situation. But really, the only battles are the ones we create. Through engaging in hostility, we are effectively sending out our troops. Letting the situation pass is the only way to end the war before it begins.

Before we build walls, let us first take a deep breath to pause before playing defense and breathe out our compassion. And may we have the courage to allow those who prefer to engage in conflict to flow out also :)

Photo source: CN Wall to North Blue by Taras Vyshnya

May 27, 2015

INCREDIBLY THANKFUL

Life has been busy. Working on various projects, traveling, finalizing my first book (more to come on this! :), and striving to make time for friends and family has taken a toll. I find myself making lists to keep up…and taking less time to wind down.

But I remain so thankful.

Today is my birthday (yay!), so I had to make time to write a post because I am so blessed. The beautiful people that I have in my life could only be a gift from God. There is no other explanation. I have tears in my eyes as I type this and I am so grateful for all of the love that is present in my life.

This love has given me perspective and the ability to dial down things that are not very important. As we look for beauty in the world, it looks for us. My wish is that we all might look deeper for the beauty and love that is always present and choose to connect with it. May we all live in gratitude as we experience this love.

I’m so thankful for you!

<3,

sage signature1

 

 

 

 

May 17, 2015

LIFE IN THE SKY

A psychic (that I met in a mall) once told me that I would travel a lot.

I nodded when she said it, but I had no idea I’d be living in the sky haha

Though the travel gets hectic and tiring, I can say that it has given me a different perspective. I see the big picture, but like a hawk with laser vision, I feel more able to focus on what’s important.

For example, this week I was only home for one day before flying out again (I’m writing this from the airport!). In one day, there were very specific things that I needed to do. There were other things I would have liked to do (including getting a massage!), but available time and energy forced prioritization.

When we believe there is endless time, we become less focused on our goals. Procrastination becomes simple.

Thankfully, my time in the sky has given me more clarity around what I’d like to share. My focused time on the ground is helping me get it done ;)

 

Photo source: My mobile phone.

 

 

 

May 10, 2015

I LOVE MY MOM!

The great thing about having your own website/blog is that you can write whatever you want! haha

Though I often make more general posts, today I feel like being specific.

My mother is love and light bottled up. She’s beautiful, brilliant, compassionate, caring, and beyond supportive!

This morning, we laughed about one of my first sage moments…when I was around eight years old, my mom asked me, “What is the meaning of life?” But before I get to the answer, think of the kind of mother you would have to be to ask your young child that question! What a beautiful gift to have a mother who would even have me think in that direction as a child.

My answer back then was, “To give life meaning.”

The meaning of life is to give life meaning.

It was then that she began calling me her “little sage.”

Even to this day, I’m not sure that I could come up with a better answer! haha

My mother has always, always, always encouraged me and my sisters to find our own happiness. She has encouraged us to give to others (and she lived the quote we heard often from our parents — “it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice”) and be independent. She showed us how to find our own light.

My mother prays with us before every trip (cue my dad’s ‘cult’ jokes haha!) and she prayed with us every night as children. Her faith in God is shown in how she lives her life. She is so giving and caring.  And even though we went to church every Sunday…and Sunday school afterwards…my Catholic mother was somehow also very supportive of me studying other religions, starting with Buddhism around age ten. Wow. She is the first to reference my blog posts in conversation (thanks Mom!) and always shares brilliant quotes and stories that I might want to reference.

Many times, my mom is more excited about my trips than I am! haha She IS joy..and she continues to teach me how to appreciate every blessing and enjoy every moment. When my mother laughs, I know God is smiling.

Basically what I’m saying is that I hit the jackpot of mothers! She’s a beautiful example of all I could hope to be, and she’s given my life tremendous meaning. I’m so thankful for you, Mom. And I love you more than I could ever express!

Love always,

your little
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Photo source: Untitled by Abdulrhman Alzunaytan

May 5, 2015

ZEN

Recently, I reread bits of “Zen: The Path of Paradox” by Osho. The book provides a lovely description of Zen, and I was particularly intrigued by this passage, starting with the following sutra:

Like the empty sky it has no boundaries, yet it is right in this place, ever profound and clear.

Osho then advises, “Replace ‘it’ with ‘God’ and you will immediately understand — but Zen people don’t use the word God, they say it.

This reminds me of one of my favorite Zen parables (shared in a previous post: Where Is God?) :

A man walked into a temple. In the middle of the room was a stone. The man sat down on the floor and put his feet up on the stone.

The priest of the temple rushed in and asked, “Don’t you know what a sin you’ve just done? No one can put their feet on such a holy shrine! The punishment for such an act is eternity in Hell.”

The man, humble in his way, answered, “Please accept my apology, for I did not know that what I did was wrong. Can you please place my feet where God won’t be offended?”

Immediately, the priest took the man’s feet off the stone and threw them on the ground. To the man’s surprise, before his feet could touch the ground, another sacred stone appeared to catch them. Not believing his eyes, the priest again threw the man’s feet from the second stone to the floor. And once again, a sacred stone appeared to catch the man’s feet.

This time the humble man, with a glimmer in his eye, asked the priest to place his feet where God did not exist. At that, the priest bowed to the feet of this holy man and apologized. The holy man replied, “There is no place where God is not.”

-Zen parable

—

Zen is often viewed as unreligious. But I do not know that it gets more religious than Zen, for Zen treats everything and everyone as holy. There is equality and there is freedom in the understanding that God is within us and all around us.

In Zen, meditation (zazen) is the practice used to create the stillness required to reach the Heaven within. If we are calm and clear, God comes to us. In this way we come to understand that life is now. 

Photo source: Reflect On by Natassa Triantafillou

April 29, 2015

WE SHOULD DANCE

A thousand times I have ascertained and found it to be true:

The affairs of this world are really nothing into nothing.

Still though, we should dance.

– Hafiz

 

I read this poem last weekend in LA…and days later, I am still thinking about it in San Francisco.

There is so much happening in the world around us. Civil unrest, earthquakes, volcanoes, famine, and war are greatly impacting humanity. (Has there ever been a time that humanity has not experienced suffering?) It can be easy to get lost in the darkness. But I am always reminded of yin and yang. Darkness gives way to light.  Light gives way to darkness. Night becomes day; day becomes night. It is the nature of change.

Hafiz takes this a step further by saying  it is all “nothing into nothing.”  Is anything we are experiencing real? Does any of it really matter? Quite literally, a volcano could erupt and take out all of humanity by blocking the sun. All issues of equality and justice would be pretty irrelevant at that point.

But still, Hafiz addresses the silver lining. Despite all of the suffering and catastrophic possibilities, there is beauty in the world. As we awake to our oneness and come together, that is beauty worth celebrating. And we should dance :)

 

Photo source: Baltimore 28 April 2015. Peaceful protestors dance amidst civil unrest after the loss of another innocent life.

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