From basic science class, I knew that I was actually looking at the light from stars as they shone thousands, millions and billions of years ago, many of which were now extinct.
"The Mindful Activist" is a monthly blog where I attempt to share what I experience as my Buddhist practice converges with my political and social interests. If any fellow "activists" (also called engaged citizens, bodhisattvas, or humans) want to...
After about two years of meditation practice, two years of off and on, here and there, but sitting in my bedroom by myself, meditation practice, a heavy blanket of confusion has been dissipated in my life, and I am able to handle life with a bit...
Every time I fall into thinking that something will make me happy, I fail. This might even be the definition of failure. Everything fails us when we expect it to cause happiness.
I like to give people advice. If someone gives me a chance to say what I think, I jump at it. So when someone talks to me about how difficult their life is, I listen deeply, because my turn to speak is coming. (Tongue and cheek implied.)
In my last post I suggested that people don’t like to meditate in noisy places, like Times Square, and that most retreats take place in the serenity of the woods, the desert, and the mountains. (Of course, right on cue, Patrick Morris sat in Times...
Just before leaving for my two week trip to London and Paris I was concerned by how my regular sitting meditation schedule would be drastically interrupted. So I knew I’d have to practice what I preach even more than usual: I had to find a...
A recent article in the New York Review of Books suggests that many of the greatest works of literature, (particularly modern literature), wouldn't have been written if their authors were Buddhist. The writer, Tim Parks, believes that...
When I was first introduced to Buddhism in a high school World Studies class, I dismissed it out-of-hand. This was during the hedonistic days of the late ‘60's, and this spiritual path seemed so grim with its concern about attachment and,...
Of all human cultures, India long ago foresaw the need for teaching the art of contemplative living not just to spiritual elites but to average people of all inclinations, backgrounds, and walks of life.
Many years ago when I was pregnant with my son, I decided to have a home birth without drugs, assisted by a midwife. My hope was to be as wakeful and present as possible during the birth, and while I knew the pain would be intense, I trusted...
Here is something that I did kind of spontaneously to tease out some “Mind-Only” understanding for myself. You will need at least 30 minutes to try this out. Take your time. It will only be useful if you spend the time it takes. If you have never...
An article in Wired Magazine from March 2012 titled "The Forgetting Pill erases Painful Memories Forever". describes an experimental therapy for removing negative memories to help patients struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in...
