Community Blog
All Humankind is My Kin
When it comes to generosity it seems there’s always an internal battle going on in my mind. Why do I offer to do things? How much should I give? What are my real intentions? I can honestly say that I have never really been at peace with my relationship to gift. There are a great deal of entanglements here for me.
Intending and Resolving
This transitional week creates opportunity for each of us to activate the power of intention and resolve, setting direction to actualize our deepest potential. Spend time in reflection to appreciate how much you have grown this year and identify areas of potential. When we note progress, faith in practice and study grows.
Awake in the Wild
As we witness and engage in the challenges and expressions of anguish in our world, we also see the joy and inexpressible beauty in all of life. When we take refuge in the Buddha, we remember that like us, the Buddha was a human being, and our refuge in Awakened Mind/Heart realizes our potential—luminous, spotless, wise, allowing the expression of wisdom and compassion in the truth of how things are.
Blessing the World
This week many of us will pause to participate in what we call “Thanksgiving,” for the blessings in our lives. There is a text called the “Mangala Sutta,” the Buddha’s discourse on Blessings. At the beginning of the sutta, he asks: “What is truly auspicious, truly a blessing?” His response (perhaps surprising) is how to craft an empowered life that is in harmony with, and supportive of, our deepest values. The thirty-eight enumerated blessings in the sutta remind us that we are a part of something greater than a small sense of self. Connected to all of life through integration of deep wisdom in our lives, we give and receive blessings.
Concentrating on Freedom
The Buddha’s teaching is straightforward: liberation is not clinging. That’s a radical and uncompromising statement. And to me, it’s very inspiring—OK, this is the work to do, and the first step is using the power of increased concentration, that comes from our consistent and constant practice, to begin to see the places of attachment, identification and fixation of mind. And through seeing, letting go—the end of clinging, freedom—comes.
You Are the Music
Considered individually, each of the five spiritual faculties performs its unique task. Together, they establish inner balance and harmony. Above the complementary pairs of faith and wisdom and energy and concentration, is the faculty of mindfulness, the third faculty, protecting the mind from falling into extremes.