Bringing Our Practice into the World Before I became a mindfulness practitioner and later a meditation teacher, I spent more than 20 years as an activist and organizer working for human rights and social justice in the United States, Africa, and Latin America. As a meditation teacher, what inspires me most is to bring our practice into the wider society and help heal the suffering of the world.... January 29, 2021By Hugh Byrne SocialJustice, teachings
Turning Towards Grief Grief is an expression of love and loss. We may grieve the loss of someone’s life, or we may grieve the loss of a job, a relationship, or a way of life. Impermanence is a central teaching of Buddhism. So, why do we Buddhists grieve when people or things or relationships end? Shouldn’t we know better? January 21, 2021By Mary Aubry teachings
Meditative Interpersonal Inquiry I’m often moved by the well known story of Ananda asking the Buddha if having noble friends and companions was half of the holy life. The Buddha replied: “Do not say so, Ananda. Noble friends and companions are the whole of the holy life.” Meditative interpersonal inquiry is a practice that exemplifies this holy life.... January 7, 2021By Rob Creekmore, Sarah Keely meditation
Being a Mirror of Goodness: An Intention for the New Year The medicine for our hurting world is love, and our loving becomes deeply healing when we see and reflect back the innate goodness of other beings. Jesuit priest and psychotherapist Anthony De Mello taught that the finest act of love you can offer is an act of seeing: “When you serve people, you help, support, comfort, alleviate pain. When you see people in their inner beauty and goodness, you transform and create.” December 29, 2020By Tara Brach meditation, teachings
The Art of Gratitude In the mid-1970s, the girls of the Bethel Girls Orphanage in a remote village in the Indian state of Kerala, gathered in our Sunday-best to remember the generosity of American families for our Christmas. We had a plastic Christmas tree with ornaments from America, including my favorite: holly leaves with red berries. I had no idea these trees were real until I came to America. Our home in northern Virginia has one holly tree in front and one at the back of our house. I am grateful to these two trees for keeping me grounded and not letting a day go by without remembering how lucky I am to have gone from an orphanage in India to America.... December 23, 2020By Anna (Annamma) Johns teachings