happy

If we cannot be happy in spite of our difficulties, what good is our spiritual practice? —Maha Ghosananda Gratitude is a gracious acknowledgment of all that sustains us, a bow to our blessings, great and small. Buddhist monks begin each day with chants of gratitude for the gifts of food and shelter, of friendship and for the teachings that benefit all. In the same way, Native American elders begin each ceremony with grateful prayers to Mother Earth and Father Sky,…

As your spacious heart opens, you can rediscover the vast perspective you’d almost forgotten. A spacious heart reveals the spacious mind. This is the mind that, after you’ve stubbed your toe, hopped around, and howled, finally laughs. The mind that, when you are upset with your partner, goes to sleep and wakes up, and sees that what was such a big deal has fallen into perspective. Your spacious mind is the natural awareness that knows and accommodates everything. My meditation…

“Momentum begets momentum, and the best way to start is to start.” — Gil Penchina One of the most important actions we can ever take is to craft a calm, centered life. A calm life is intentional, and focused. It results in a life well-lived because it is not tossed about by societal pressures. It is thoughtful, organized, and focused on the things that matter most. And one of the most effective ways to achieve a centered life is to…

The wise heart brings compassion to imperfection itself. The wise heart is at peace with the way things are. No longerstruggling against the world or lost in it, we rest. The holy qualities of understanding, humility, and a patient caring are our gifts. Our body, speech, and mind become like the Tao, “content with the changing of the seasons.” We become the love we have sought. And in this love we are also returned to ourselves. Zen teacher Edward Espe…

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes.” – Marcel Proust It happens to all of us. At times we feel stuck. We look around and are not happy with what we see. Our days may seem too short to accomplish all that we have set out to do. Our calendars may be too crowded with activities that we feel obligated to attend. Our hearts may sink a little lower with…