This began as two separate gratitudes, one for my teachers and a second for my students. But, really, they go together as one thought. I am grateful for the other sentient beings and even non-sentient ones that have helped me on the path. It really does not matter much whether one is in the “student” […]

Obviously, all living things, including us, make assumptions. We all need to in order to survive. Imagine if a rabbit or a George had to determine from scratch whether or not there was a significant danger posed every single time he (or she) encountered a fellow person/rabbit. Imagine if we had to run complicated biochemical

“I am doing the best that I can”! No, not really. Technically we never are. And on one level this is perfectly fine and essentially inevitable. On the other hand, if we think that we are doing our best then we are deluding ourselves and likely giving ourselves permission to not succeed nor even try

I’ve learned and reaffirmed a lot during the pandemic; I bet you have too. I’ve learned that some things that I thought were really important to me seem to have fallen out of my life. I’m okay with some of these changes, others really puzzle me (why can I not seem to do yoga from

Take a pen out and a sheet of paper and write a letter by hand to a friend or loved one, put a stamp on it, and walk it to the mailbox. Turn off the wifi at home for a few hours. Turn off the TV. Sit and listen to the rain or walk in

Nearly all of us (that can) use language every day. It is incredibly useful; don’t get me wrong. But, as with everything else, it is not perfect. There are trade-offs to be made in using language. One of the many pitfalls of language…of words…is that they only approximate something. A tree is a tree, it

It is very easy to find people or things to get mad at. It almost seems like this is becoming the new national pastime. We are mad at airline ticket pricing opacity and politicians and school boards and cell phone carriers and just about everyone else in between. We seem to be mad at the

It is really rather funny when you think about it. The human mind is the single most complicated discrete thing that we know of in the universe. We marvel at the achievements made possible by the collective work of these awesome organs. Yet, as has been known for millennia, quieting these powerful tools is at

I take clean clothes from my automatic washer and dryer for granted. I take for granted as well the ability and easy affordability of calling my friend or relative across the country, across the world. Safe abundant cheap drinking water pouring out of multiple taps throughout my home, whenever I want it! Indoor plumbing and

Seems like a pretty basic question, but is it? What am I? Not who, but what. Am I this body? If I were to lose a limb, I’d still be me. So, I can’t be this body. This body is just a vessel to contain and carry and protect “me”.   Am I these thoughts?