The desert always has more to teach. In the past, I came to the desert seeking power. This time I asked to learn about Love. The desert greeted me and my Dharma Center students with the sweet scent of wild flowers perfuming the warm air. Birds cooed and chirped while…
We are One There is no Time There is no Space Those we miss are Closer than we think Last night I dreamed I was sharing flyers about Dharma Center. I rode a bicycle that would turn into a motorcycle whenever I needed some extra power. (I love how dreams…
O, to be a pratyeka-buddha Dissolved in private nirvana At peace as an eternal student of the Buddha But I know this Enlightenment is not mine. I see the endless game of samsara How could I ignore the cries of those who suffer from delusion? Jumping in with both feet,…
Hot and cold. Tired and Awake. Weak and Strong. Past, present, future and the Eternal Moment. This is the reconciliation of opposites. I am a rainbow of infinite awareness stretching out in and as all the worlds. I am the mind focusing on and experiencing God and soul. I am…
When I visited my family over Thanksgiving, my 12-year old niece wanted to learn how to meditate. The morning before our little class, she was having a rough day. Although she was feeling grumpy, she still was excited to learn. I shared with her this very simple 3 breath meditation…
Abandon ill-will and hate Abandon envy and greed Abandon anger and sorrow Abandon ignorance and delusion Abandon all these like a sinking ship For that’s what they are Bloated with self-importance They will drag you down to the depths of suffering. Cultivate Gratitude and Loving-Kindness Be neither attracted nor repulsed…
Recently I went on a drug holiday. Because of the wonders of smart phones, it gave me time to read more articles, posts, and comments on Facebook than usual. In that odd close-knit virtual world, I discovered countless people with legitimate pain issues being treated with suspicion and asked to…
On Friday night, I discovered the Mark Hopkins is one of San Francisco’s most glorious hotels. It sits on top of Nob Hill, rising above the city lights like a castle. The 19th century architecture, with the intricate carvings on the archways, appeared like an entrance to a fairy tale…
A few nights ago, I woke from a dream, which played out before me like a movie: A white crane fluttered around a city street. Nearby, deeply concerned people were looking for the crane. The bird had once been human, and the people desperately wanted to break the spell before…
1. Everything is Transient During my last pain flare, for over a week I lived with the feeling of two nails shoved in my eyes, causing an intense headache. It would be easy to say the pain was constant since it bothered me enough to interrupt my activity several times…