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.
Gratitude arises naturally as we explore/open to the truth of the living impermanence of our lives. The dharma unveils various gifts of our aliveness. We recognize and become awake to the magic of life itself.
Recognizing letting go as a natural part of our life and death. The story of Anathapindika death, how he received the highest teachings and changed Buddhist culture so that these teachings are offered to all of the 4 fold Sangha.
Exploring the celebration & relationship to death on Halloween and through the Zen practice of Segaki. We recognize the normalcy of death through Buddhist teachings, reflecting on our lives and in each moment of practice. Using reflection and meditation we discover how death leads to awakening and living our lives fully.
Maranasati – Mindfulness of Death is called The Supreme Mindfulness Practice by the Buddha. It teaches us to let go and value the fullness of our impermanent lives. Contemplating death reveals the paradox of dharma and death which are experience and known both personally and impersonally.
The meditative process includes active exploration of body, heart, mind, self and other - the whole of Reality. In addition to mindful awareness and kindness, waking up evokes our curiosity, wonder and intelligence as we discover the fullness of humanity living in each of us.
The meditative process includes active exploration of body, heart, mind, self and other - the whole of Reality. In addition to mindful awareness and kindness, waking up evokes our curiosity, wonder and intelligence as we discover the fullness of humanity living in each of us.
