In order for us to develop a relationship with our innermost self, we need quiet time. Many of my patients laugh when I suggest that they get up early enough to try meditating consistently. “Getting and staying quiet is impossible,” the ego says. […]
When we have a thought, do we respond to it as though it were true? Do we believe that our feelings tell us what is true about the world? Two big buzzwords these days are Emotional Dysregulation. It assumes that normal is, say, in the range of middle C, within an octave either higher or [...]
This was supposed to be a blog about Suzuki Roshi’s quote about making mistake after mistake after mistake. As often happens, wonderful mistakes occur when I search the Internet. First, I found this — a quote from Winston Churchill, “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” He was a Zen Master. And [...]
In my understanding of Buddhism, hell is being stuck in a state of desire, of craving, of wanting anything other than what is right here, right now. Jizo is the bodhisattva whose role it is to help us out of these realms, making a vow to evolve to a higher state. […]
I was fortunate enough to find this picture of Jizo online at one of my favorite Buddhist sites, www.onmarkproductions.com, where much rich information is available. As you already likely know, Jizo has many manifestations throughout Japan. He is best known as the protector of children, women and travelers. He is also known as the Bosatsu [...]
Inventor Charles F. Kettering once said, “You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.” Going Somewhere is something I really like. Going there fast? Even better. I used to joke that my middle [...]
Jizo Bodhisattva has many names. The original was Sanskrit: Ksitigarbha. It’s translation to English is roughly Earth Womb or Earth Treasury. As the Bodhisattva who promised Buddha he would remain on the earth until everyone was finished suffering, his role is like that of Mother Earth. The earth holds each plant, each seedling and each [...]
I don’t like noise. That is putting it mildly. So is saying I’m sensitive to noise. I’ve been this way my entire life. So I went looking for a solution. In my meditation, I am encouraged to welcome my anger toward noise, note it and breathe it out. That hasn’t helped. I’ve tried it hundreds [...]
Practicing meditation with Jizo has allowed me to listen to nature and practice lovingkindness with an earthworm
We wait to be perfect. In meditation, we can see that there is no place to get to where everything will be better or different. So, we wake up and live now.
