“Our lives are like the plants, floating along the water’s edge, illumined by the moon.”
~ Ryokan
held.
carried.
we reflect
the beauty
of this life
given
for a time.
and then
given back
just as easily
and all too quickly.
~j
PlantingSeeds
take heed! take heed!
Zen Evening Gatha
Let me respectfully remind you
Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken.
Awaken.
Take heed.
This night your days are diminished by one.
Do not squander your life.
Michael Stone – teacher, thinker, activist…
Hello friends –
Buddhist teacher, thinker, and activist Michael Stone transitioned from this life to the next last night. Although I didn’t know him personally, I have valued his teachings both through his YouTube vlogs and his writings. Very real, very accessible, and always with a sense of tenderness and genuine curiosity. His presence will be missed. The openness and generosity of his partner and wife, Carina along with other members of his family and loved ones during the past 24 or so hours has been an incredible act of grace as they practiced openly and invited all those touched by Michael’s teachings to join them in practice.
Although I have many favorite Michael dharma talks, I have some particular favorites below for you to view. Michael had this thing he did “5 Minute Dharma Talks” which I have loved to go back to from time to time. They were like a clarifying anchor in my practice.
May they bring benefit to your practice as well:
The heart of non-attachment – Michael Stone
Redefining the present moment – Michael Stone
The gift of our wounds – Michael Stone
a longer talk/conversation with Zoketsu Norman Fischer:
Nobody’s Life Is Just Their Life
Mindfulness & Concentration: Practice Tips with Michael Stone
Michael was also at the forefront of practice and social engagement, which you get a glimpse of in his videos I’ve posted above. We are certainly in a time when this is not only beneficial, but necessary.
May Michael’s teachings continue to be of benefit as the generosity of the dharma ripples out from heart to heart, into the world.
bows of gratitude
~j
be you, be beautiful…
vow…
look deeply…
hope…
Happy 82nd Birthday to His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama…
Happiest of birthdays to His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama!
Grateful for his continued presence and his persistent message of compassion as the vehicle of resolving the world’s problems. I’ve had the pleasure of attending three of his public talks, one of which was for his 80th birthday. He turned 80 during the talk, so the whole auditorium sang him happy birthday. May he live in in good health for many years to come, continuing to be a light of compassion and peace.
~j
Every day, think as you wake up, “Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
~
HH The 14th Dalai Lama
why wait?
Sooner or later life catches up with us and we come to the realization that there is no avoiding our problems, there is no running away from our demons, there is no going to war to win over this life or force our way through. It never lasts. There is nothing to grasp in desperation. It only adds to the suffering in the world.
We come to realize, often through experiencing or bearing witness to suffering, that the only true option is to meet life with authenticity in all of its rawness with an open heart, right here in this moment.
Meditation is the practice of not waiting until later, but gently and persistently meeting life as it is and as we are in this moment. Staying put. meeting our demons with compassion and gentleness. Moving beyond winning and losing. Letting go. Transforming suffering rather than transmitting suffering. Then we have no need to go to war with ourselves, with others, with life. Then we have peace.
~j
Independence Day
Happy Independence Day!!may our hearts be open to those within and outside our country. may we live up to the principles of freedom, equality and justice both in our personal interactions and our policies and laws. may we welcome the outsider as an insider with empathy and compassion, striving endlessly for peace.
#MeditateAndResist #TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #July4th #IndependenceDay
The Metta Garden 