How to stay serene The following are so-called “virtues” or skills that one should learn and practice in order to remain serene in most situations. What is happening is meant to be even if we don’t get what we want or if we […]
Managing our restless moody mind It is mainly our moods as much as anything else that determine our quality of life. As we wander through many daily moods, it is important to remember that each mood positive and negative involves a choice. We have the choice to assume responsibility for the genesis and content of […]
THE POWER OF SMILING: when, how, and why Most of us are resistant to doing this exercise. We feel it is fake or unnatural to smile w/o a reason. ….and yet it is recommended not only by psychotherapists (Ref 1) but also described in Zen literature (Ref 2). When to smile? Our face is a […]
EXPECTATIONS: HIDDEN SOURCES OF WORRIES Expectations are true desires projected in the future, and, like any desires they may cause suffering. Of course, we cannot live w/o expectations regarding our loved ones, self, work, events, and life in general.. […]
THE POWER OF THE 6 PARAMITAS or transcendent perfections The six paramitas, or “perfections,” hold great significance because they are the fundamental guiding principles for Zen practitioners. By cultivating the paramitas — generosity, discipline, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom — we can experience profound benefits in our personal growth, spiritual journey, and relationship with others. […]
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LEARNING TO PRACTICE LOVING KINDNESS OR METTA In our Western culture, we find it difficult to direct loving-kindness and compassion to ourselves. We may feel that we are unworthy, or that it is too egocentric or […]
How to cultivate resilience during tough times. All of us can feel the impact of challenging times. What we cannot control doesn’t mean we’re powerless. When we’re up against change, uncertainty, anger, grief, worries, and stress, resilience is the key to navigating life and emerging with more […]
Meditation as a Tool for Dealing with Distraction Being distracted is part of the human condition. Our monkey minds are often unfocused and trapped in thoughts and wanderings. Worse yet, modern life has added to our distractedness with its enticing baits, from scrolling on social media to binge-watching on Netflix. Although distraction is not new […]
