Truth

Truth’s not subjective

It does not care what you think

It’s simply the truth

Understanding And Compassion

Understanding and compassion need to evolve beyond doctrine and ideas. Transform the insights from these doctrines into real life. Understanding and compassion need to be real existing entities within real life that can be seen, touched, and experimented with. The presence of understanding and compassion can alleviate suffering and cause the birth of joy…and the appearance of a smile.

May you find peace in the bloom of each moment.

Thinking Less

Thoughts continually beat against my mind like a lighthouse battered by icy waves. I am able to tame the mind though, through the practice of conscious breathing, and it leaves me serene. This connection between my breath and body is a gift; one that offers me rest, peace, and relaxation. During meditation, I have chosen to practice letting the barrage of thoughts running through my head flow out, like so much dirty bath water down a drain. And I become peace.

Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know that this is a wonderful moment!

May you find peace in the bloom of each new moment 🙂

The Story That I Tell Myself

There is no “me”, but the story I tell myself. I grasp the story tightly to myself and do not recognize that the tale I’ve spun is entirely dependent on every other thing in the world.

I cannot point to anything else to define “me”. I can not point to my relationships. I can not point to anything that I have done in the past or some direction that I am headed in the future. It is all part of the story that I tell myself to create “me”.

I breathe in.

I pay attention to this moment. This moment that is not a place, something that is not solid. It is unfolding before me, being born and dying each moment. There is no me in the past. There is no me in the future. I have no life outside of the unfolding activity of this moment.

Through each moment, I flow like a body of water moving. There is only this moment as it unfolds.

I let go of this concept of a “me”, of a “myself”, of an “I” that stands separate from this world and environment. It drops away and I and all things are born and die together in the bloom of each moment.

Thousands of candles

Thousands of candles can be lit from one single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Buddha

Minimalism and Zen

I saw a funeral procession pass by not long ago, and an interesting thought occurred to me: The hearse was not towing a U-Haul. Just like every one who had died before them, this person had passed away and left behind all of the things that they had accumulated throughout a lifetime. As I travel this new path of peace and love, one thing becomes increasingly apparent to me: Stuff will never make me happy. Relationships and health, experiences and presence…these are the things that I believe make a life worth living. And upon examination of my life and possessions, I realize how much I have been effected by the consumer culture that I was raised in. I believe that the practice of minimalism will supplement my spiritual journey beautifully, and I am excited to begin.

Have any of you begun to live a minimalist lifestyle? How has it effected you?

May you find peace in the bloom of each new moment.

Cultivating Compassion

Cultivating compassion has always been one of my biggest struggles. My culture rewards people who produce results, regardless of who you may have to step on to make it happen along the way. Success became my Tao. Money became my God. Compassion was little more something I would fake in order to close a sale.

And the hole inside of me grew.

As I explore this new path of love and peace, I am delighted by the rewards I receive through the cultivation of compassion. One of my very favorite ways to meditate is to become mindful of my loving actions toward others, the loving words that I use to build others up, and truly listening to others – truly being present for them. Being present for another person is one of the most compassionate and loving gifts that you could ever offer them. If you notice that someone is acting in a negative way, understand that it is likely a product of their hurts, and show them love.

And please, if you would, share with me the ways that you enjoy being compassionate.

May you find peace in the bloom of each new moment 🙂

Occupy

Occupy the present 🙂

The Dalai Lama On Spiritual Laziness

Laziness will stop your progress in your spiritual practice. One can be deceived by three types of laziness: the laziness of indolence, which is the wish to procrastinate; the laziness of inferiority, which is doubting your capabilities; and the laziness that is the attachment to negative actions, or putting great effort into non-virtue.

May you find peace in this moment.