Tag Archives: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Imagine

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Imagine…. “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” –John Lennon   Imagine… “One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it.”   ― Clarissa Pinkola Estés   Imagine…. “People want to lead peaceful lives. The terrorists are short-sighted, and this is one of the causes … Continue reading →

Ask Yourself This

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Recently I was asked whether what I am writing in my novel is story relevant? Or, is it only writer relevant? At first, this question stopped me. Then I thought — right!, if what I write doesn’t move the story forward then it’s not truly relevant to the story. The subject may be important to me but not to the story and therefore not to the reader. Sometimes my writing gets into all sorts of topics that are not truly relavant to the story or theme of my piece. I find myself writing around the topic, creating more back story, or … Continue reading →

His Holiness The Dalai Lama turns 79 Today!

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This blog is to acknowledge and celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 79th  birthday. Together may we wish for His Holiness a long and healthy life! May his words of kindness, acceptance and tolerance spread. May we all be an expression of our best selves.   Here is a link to the Dalai Lama’s official website:  http://www.dalailama.com Join me once a month for a meditation practice: The Gift of Meditation.     About

A Skeptic Awakening at the Foot of One Sage

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I consider myself a willing skeptic at the feet of many sages and yoginis. I am willing to explore and to reach for meaning while being given spiritual instruction. During various teachings, rituals and empowerments that I attended over the years at Deer Park in Oregon Wisconsin, I was deeply inspired by the Venerable Geshe Lhundub Sopa’s introductory teachings. I admit that these “lessons before the lessons” often held more meaning for me than the primary teachings. I was able then, and now, to use these teachings in a more practiced way, integrating them into my daily life. After hearing … Continue reading →

Pivotal Moments: Use Them or Lose Them

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An active life is strewn with them – pivotal moments that are crucial to the forward movement of life. These moments don’t make life meaningful on there own, ­––we make life more meaningful with them. Perhaps the best story that demonstrates a pivotal moment is my encounter with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1995. I enjoy viewing my life in reflection of such moments especially when I am discouraged or feeling reluctant to stick with my spiritual and creative path. It is one moment that helped me to keep moving forward and to trust the efforts I put into … Continue reading →

Living A Principled Life

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His Holiness of course was generous in his teaching making the Heart Sutra accessible to all those who attended the teachings this May in Indiana. His introduction included emphasis on applying ourselves and studying the Dharma. And he concluded with a reminder to study, to access Wisdom through reading and studying. He reminded us how the Buddha discouraged people to simply follow him and instead emphasized the importance of everyone generating a mind and heart of compassion and enlightenment. “The Buddha can only show you the path but cannot do it for you. Liberation lies in your own hands,” the Dalai … Continue reading →

The Zero Point Agreement

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This article is taken from my upcoming release titled: The Zero Point Agreement: The Door to Freedom and Lasting Satisfaction. All true and lasting happiness is based on this one principle. When you are in agreement with this principle, happiness and contentment will be the result. No matter what your spiritual base, no matter what you are practicing, without this agreement your spiritual practice and its achievements will be fragile and ephemeral at best. When you are not in agreement with this principle, difficulty and unhappiness will ensue. This agreement will be found within the core of all the major … Continue reading →

Tornado Warnings, Shinyata and the Blue Heron

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“It feels real to me Julie.” “I know. But it’s not. If it were real it would be true for everyone all the time,” I said. “I do get a peek at what’s on the other side,” he reminded himself. “What’s there?,” I asked. “Love, . . . Is that real?” “As real as you and I sitting here.”                                     ­­–A conversation with a client, he was referring to the obstructions of fear and depression that surround him. One of my intentions for attending the teachings this month at Deer Park was to expose myself to the wisdom of … Continue reading →

Basic Mindfulness Sitting Practice

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 This evening we began with twenty minutes of mindfulness meditation practice. To help clear the mind and prepare the body for meditation this simple yogic breath is helpful:  Using your thumb and pointer finger hold your right nostril with your right thumb and breath in through the left nostril. Then on the exhale release the thumb and press the finger against the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Do this three times. Nice deep breaths. Then do the same with three breaths breathing in from the right nostril and you hold the left closed, and breath out your … Continue reading →