Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist practice. It takes the typically egoic way of wanting to avoid pain and gravitate towards pleasure, and turns it on its head. Instead, we learn to breathe in what’s uncomfortable and painful in the world, and breathe out blessings, comfort and happiness. Tonglen meditation is truly transformative, putting into perspective […]
I am a Christian who practices yoga daily. There is a belief that you can’t be a faithful Christian and practice yoga. This saddens me greatly. As with anything, it is a matter of intentionality. I have done a lot of reading on this topic over the last two years and have contemplated on the […]
Why are we so rarely in the state of grace? I believe the reason is that we rarely have the courage to expand ourselves fully in the moment. Living with grace is knowing what time it is, and then acting in sync with it. If we draw from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: “there is a time […]
One of my favorite Italian sayings is “Dolce far Niente”, which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It does not mean being lazy, it is referring to the pleasure one gets from being idle. … Dolce far Niente is something Italians embrace and something they do very well. Maybe this is why I LOVE Italy […]
I am in the middle of this beautiful book entitled, “The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness” by Rabbi Rami Shapiro. I picked it up on the last night of my silent retreat at Mepkin Abbey and never got to read it through but I knew I had to spend time in this book so I ordered […]
The unexpected moment is always sweeter. Wouldn’t you agree? Life is always bringing unexpected gifts. Yesterday a dear friend gave me a beautiful journal that she picked up. She said that when she saw it, she thought of me. And that is how I became the proud owner of this gift. This out of the […]
2 John 1:12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. So what is Joy? I asked a few people and found some other ideas from […]
Sermon From the Mat #1 ABUNDANCE John 10:10 says “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” Having an abundance mindset affords us the opportunity to live life in its fullness of joy, gratitude and strength in body, mind and spirit. Achieving an abundance mindset can be […]
This past weekend I had the pleasure and privilege of spending three days at the beautiful Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, with a group of amazing people from all over the east coast to hear thoughts on Encountering Silence from Carl McColman. Carl not only is a prolific author on the subject of […]
First impressions First love First day of First born First (fill in the blank) What do you feel when you hear “the first?” What comes to your mind? Do you feel happy or maybe hopeful? Or can hearing this make you disappointed or depressed? I believe there are certain words that hold power and “the […]
practical insanity 