Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled […]
Treasures
A collection of quotes and instructions (mostly Buddhist) which, for me, are enduringly helpful. I hope you find some of them helpful too.
Marshall Rosenberg on Presence
“The most important part of empathy is the hardest. It involves our presence, our full presence to what is alive in this person at this moment.”
A Reservoir of Joy, An Oasis of Peace
“The goal is not just to create joy for ourselves but to be a reservoir of joy, an oasis of peace, a pool of serenity that can ripple out to all those around you.”
Taking In the Good
I first learned about Rick Hanson’s Taking in the Good from a class with Oren Jay Sofer. For one week, I practiced it … and it was a glorious week. But then I forgot. Until yesterday — when a Dharma sister told me clearly and unequivocally how I’ve helped her. I was blown away — […]
Thich Nhat Hanh
Along with multitudes of others, I grieve the recent death and celebrate the life of Thich Nhat Hanh. In his honor and remembrance, Shambala Publications shared a long passage of his on dying — excerpted from his book You are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment. There are any number of striking parts….
Do Not Squander Your Life
Attending an introductory session of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, I was deeply moved by an evening verse they shared at the end. Though I practice Zen, it’s not a verse I’d heard before. It’s widely attributed to Dōgen Zenji, though I couldn’t find the source. Here are two versions (presumably translations) […]
Be the Custodian of Your Awareness
“Be the custodian of your awareness. Care for it well. Don’t let others dictate where your awareness goes. Don’t let advertisement, don’t let politicians, don’t let the messages of society somehow become the default of what you focus on, what you pay attention to, and what you think about…. And be very careful that your attention goes to things that feed and develop that which is best in you, that which is wholesome and beneficial, that which is good for you.”
Ways to Joy: Letting Go of Self Without Self-Sacrifice
Letting go of the small self is key to joy. Of course that means being there for others — but does it mean “service”? The obvious response to this is yes, but for those of us who slip too easily into letting others walk all over us, perhaps not. Instead, here are some other, safer avenues that come to mind.
Metta Attributed to HHDL
September a year ago, a dear Dharma sister opened an anti-racism meeting with the following metta meditation. May all beings everywhere, plagued by sufferings of body and mind, obtain an ocean of happiness and joy. May no living creature suffer, commit evil, or be weighed down by oppression. May the frightened cease to be afraid, […]