A pervasive but often invisible source of suffering in our culture is self-aversion. We are a busy culture, and we move through our life feeling anxious and dissatisfied, but not fully conscious of how we neglect or judge our inner experience. We suffer from a lack of belonging: to our own bodies, to each other and to the earth. When we practice Buddhist meditation, we learn how to listen deeply and hold our life tenderly.
The open space of compassion allows us to realize that our thoughts and emotions are not who we are; they are waves in our ocean. This gives us the freedom to live more wisely and love more fully.
For over thirty-five years, I've been exploring the awakening of awareness with yoga, meditation, a clinical psychology practice and relationships in spiritual community (sangha). Since the untying of emotional knots is an essential part of "waking up," it is natural for me to weave these elements into my Buddhist practice and teaching. With formal practice, and a genuine engagement in sangha, we can cultivate the qualities of heart and awareness that allow for deep emotional healing and spiritual freedom.
Buddhism guides us in slowing down, quieting and paying attention in an honest and caring way. Through our mindfulness and compassion practices, we establish a sense of intimacy and belonging to our life. We discover that there is no Buddha "out there." Rather, we realize that our true refuge is the wakefulness, openness and love of our own natural awareness.
In the face of inevitable hurts, disappointments and losses, what serves spiritual awakening? This talk explores the gifts of a forgiving heart, devotion and self-inquiry.
The path of the Bodhisattva is to realize and live from the truth or our connectedness. Our practices as compassion and metta awaken us from the trance of separation and free us to embody the awakened heart.
The Buddha taught that suffering arises when we want life to be different than it is. Radical acceptance cuts through grasping and aversion and reveals the freedom of our true nature.
When we are identified inside the body of fear, our life contracts and our heart becomes hard. With the practices of mindfulness and compassion, we open our sense of being into the loving awareness that has room for fear.
