Wisdom & Patience
As of early May, I officially completed my first half-century of life. Here is my prediction for life after 50: Some things will get better and other things will get worse. My psychic powers are astonishing, I know. It’s easy to understand that things will change. The challenge lies in determining how I will respond […]
Worldly Winds and Second Arrows
“Monks, these eight worldly conditions spin after the world, and the world spins after these eight worldly conditions. Which eight? Gain, loss, status, disgrace, censure, praise, pleasure, & pain. These are the eight worldly conditions that spin after the world, and the world spins after these eight worldly conditions.” […]
“I see you, Mara”
Meeting life’s frustrations with grace and humility, and maybe a little humor. THE GUEST HOUSE This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who […]
The Five Remembrances
In the Sutta on Subjects for Contemplation (the Utajjhatthana Sutta), the Buddha encourages both monks and lay people to contemplate five universal truths, commonly called the Five Remembrances. I have Thich Nhat Hanh’s beautiful translation taped to my bathroom mirror to read every morning. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way […]