Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ~C. S. Lewis When someone asked me this morning how I cope with the tragedy of fear and rage and suffering going on in our country right now, I answered, “with compassion.” That is a simple answer, […]
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Every time I drive to my forest cabin in the mountains, I pass a hand painted wooden sign nailed to a tree that says “Wake up, America!” While I don’t necessarily agree with the sentiments of the person who posted this sign, I do support the idea of inviting people to wake up. Spiritual teacher
In the realm of true dharmaThere is neither self nor otherOnly spontaneous recognitionAs we say together “not two”~Sengcan Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron says that she practices compassion by reminding herself that everyone she encounters is “just like me.” Just like me, this person wants to be free from suffering. Just like me, this person wants
For by their fruits you shall know them. ~Matthew 7:16 The Bible teaches that we know who people are by their fruits. I’ve been thinking about that lately. By what characteristics do we measure people? What are the qualities manifested by those we hold up as beacons of holiness or enlightenment? What are the attributes
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When pushed and pulled to make differentiationsSimply say “Not two” This quote is from a 5th century Buddhist poem by Sengan, Third Chinese Chan Patriarch, translated by Dan G. Reid in The Thread of Dao. The words reach across the centuries as the perfect reminder for today, election day in the United States, a day
Buddhism is sometimes described as the middle path or the middle way. This has a specific meaning in the context of Buddhism, but for me the general concept of a middle way helped me navigate my journey with cancer this year. I have written over recent months about the challenges and blessings of this journey
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“Everything in moderation,” goes the adage. The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism is described as the “middle way.” A meditation instruction teaches “not too tight, not too loose.” The concept of moderation is the foundation of this chapter.Governing people in alignment with heavenIs accomplished only through moderationAs with other chapters on governing, I find this most
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Find the cost of freedomBuried in the groundMother Earth will swallow youLay your body down ~Stephen Stills For the last few days, I have awoken humming this refrain. It replays throughout the day and rocks me to sleep. Although it was written about war, it sings to my soul about internal war, the one
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“When do you meditate?” the interviewer asked the Buddhist teacher.“I am never not meditating,” the teacher replied.“You should be practicing.” This is one of the slogans we train with in martial arts. The idea is that we weave practice into our lives as we go through our day. I think this is what the Buddhist
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This chapter highlights the folly of thinking that we know what’s good or bad, or that we can control things outside ourselves. It begins with an observation about government. When government is unobtrusivePeople are wholesome and pureWhen government is oppressivePeople are restless and contentious The Tao Te Ching’s passages on government are consistent with the
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