Compassion is Something You TRAIN in
I wanted to share a fairly simple observation from teaching this week, related to the meditation practices that focus on the development of compassion, such as metta and tonglen. It’s interesting that if we see a great athlete or yogi, or just someone in prime physical condition, we have a tendency to think that this person has gone through an … Continue
The Joys of a City Retreat
As urban beings, we need rest: physical, mental, emotional, psychological. And, we need a break from the usual routines of working too much—or worrying about our work or lack of work—and taking care of our family and home. In the Buddhist meditation tradition, we practice sitting still to offer ourselves a change, a break from … Continue
Love Alone: Relationships, Depression and the Practice of Meditation
I was standing alone in the mountains at night. I had moved to a retreat center to escape a broken heart. A dramatic way to deal with a break up, admittedly. The stars exploded across the Colorado sky. It was so clear that it was hard to tell where the black backdrop of night really … Continue
The Pursuit of Happiness: Developing Empathy for Others
I had a major epiphany a few weeks ago while playing with our family’s chocolate toy poodle, Leroy Brown. I realized that he’s just trying to be happy. Sometimes when he’s trying to be happy, he makes me happy — like when I go to the grocery store and come back and he acts like … Continue
Why I Meditate: Its Time I Friended Myself
I get so busy that its easy not to take time off to do things for myself… I’m on the computer all day at work and then come home and immediately sit down at my laptop and log on to Facebook and Twitter. The next thing I know its 1am and time to go to bed … Continue
