I am intrigued by how we can live the 'holy life' as lay people. How do we erase the imaginary line between formal sitting practice and the rest of our lives? How can we bring full engagement to formal and informal practice? Is it possible to embody, in our lives, the understanding and insight that comes with intensive training? And can we live our lives in a way that expresses and continues to deepen our realization? These questions fuel my practice and my teaching.
I place a lot of emphasis on the Buddha's teaching about mindfulness of the body. The body is a powerful dharma gate. I encourage people to deeply investigate the body and use it as a place of recollection in daily life.
Our individual and cultural habits, our confusion, all require a sincere and ongoing commitment to spiritual life and practice. In order to mature our 'layastic' practice, we need to develop a palette of practices: mindfulness, loving-kindness, inquiry, reflection, precept practice, service, sutta study, etc.
I believe passionate engagement is the foundation of the spiritual path. Spiritual life blossoms when mindfulness is woven with a heartfelt sense of loving-kindness and compassion. With warm mindfulness as the basis of practice, our attachment to identity, roles and experience begins to loosen. As our experience and understanding matures, faith develops. This nourishes a devotion to practice which further deepens our insights.
It is precious to be born in the human realm and have an opportunity to practice and awaken. May we appreciate our inheritance and bring to life the teachings of the Buddha.
As we practice we see each moment is Good whether whatever it is. We recognize the Goodness of each moment, the Goodness of being alive, the Goodness of Discover the truth and the Goodness of awakening to freedom. The whole dharma is sitting right here and it is Good!
This is the only moment there is! This is your life Now! What happens if you give yourself to that truth? What happens is we let go of everything else except Being here right now. We discover the magic of reality revealing itself in this moment. To love the moment includes all the variants of love: liking, appreciating, caring for, wondering about, become enthralled or magnetized by, curious about & illuminated by Now.
Exploring the role of love as part of practice. Following our hearts to awaken what is true. Utilizing the devotional skill of loving the present moment and giving our hearts to respond skillful in each sitting and in out lives.
How the simple practice of being aware, develops and deepens leading to awareness. This brings forth the maturity of Awakening characterized by abiding in the Presence of Sati/Awareness.
Exploration of the four principles of the Satipaṭṭhāna refrain: Ardent, Fully Aware, Mindful and Free. Learning what it means when: 'one abides independent, not clinging to anything in the world' The freedom of letting go of everything.
