Dear Friends, These are tumultuous times. We may think we have come through the storm. We may think the storm is just beginning as a certain man and his supporters resist the election results. If neither of those happens, there is still this: The Democratic Party is still committed to corporate profits and willing to […]

From Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: As you can dear souls, Hold the center and Be Peace. Whatever outcomes, there will be much work to be done, to either prevent more wreckage, or to dive into the wreck and retrieve the treasures and repair them. That is where Undiminishable Love […]

Here’s something to do “When I sit zazen, feelings of anger and even rage come up. What can I do?” was the question. I didn’t have an answer, but a response came anyway, from the depths of Buddhist tradition. Because so many of us have this situation, I’m offering it here now. There’s a practice […]

“Go ahead, light your candles, burn your incense, ring your bells and call out to the Gods but watch out, because the Gods will come. And they will put you on the anvil and fire up the forge and beat you and beat you until they turn brass into pure gold.” (The quote seems to […]

A Zen story: The monk asked the master, “How do we practice in difficult times?” The master replied “Welcome.” Suggested direction from an email exchange: “At last, a challenge worthy of our intelligence and abilities.” Noticing: The people thriving in this time are those made alive by throwing themselves into the collective change needed. Whether […]

In this time of turmoil and uncertainty, impermanence is thoroughly present to us. I offer you these words of the Buddha, from the Upaddha Sutta: The Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: “This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.” The Buddha replied: “Don’t say that, Ananda. Don’t say […]