The first practice instruction Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche ever gave to me was: “Don’t create.” He told me, “Leave your mind in its natural state—don’t do anything. When thoughts and sensations arise, just let them arise. When they fall away, just let them fall away. Don’t try to manipulate them.” Then he went to Tibet for six months.
Read MoreHave you ever noticed that you move back and forth between what can seem like parallel universes? Do you ever have an experience when, one moment, you feel absolutely no hope for humanity; and then in the next you see someone do something completely selfless, brilliant and daring, and all of a sudden you feel overcome by the beauty of it all, and everything seems perfect?
Read MoreJonathan Bastian of WFPL Public Radio in Louisville, Kentucky conducted a lively interview with Elizabeth last October on the topic of meditation and spiritual practice. Elizabeth appreciated the “genuine and intelligent questions Jonathan asked about spiritual practice, its purpose and the meaning of faith.”
Read MoreRecently, Scott Kelley came home from a year in space. His magical photographs inspired me to share this excerpt from my upcoming book, The Logic of Faith from Shambhala Publications.
Read MoreAs the Lunar New Year (of the Fire Monkey!) approaches, I have begun making some strong aspirations. Aspirations always give my mind direction and an opportunity to clarify and explore the meaning of my life and activity. As many strong aspirations have been surging up in my mind I wanted to share them with you, and hope that they influence you in many positive ways (that is, if you want them to).
Read MoreTry thinking of self as just “being” and responding to the world around you with intelligence. You are a part of the great nature of infinite interdependence.
Read MoreOn the path of bodhicitta, sometimes we even make the wish: “May I take the sufferings of others onto myself!” This is an outrageous aspiration. Beings are limitless, therefore suffering is limitless, and so our compassion and care for them too must be limitless.
Read MoreWhen we recognize how lost we get in the habitual momentum of our thoughts and emotions, we realize how little strength we have to move in the direction of sanity. This can inspire us to understand and appreciate the power of prayer. Prayer cuts through the wild and discursive activity of the mind, giving us direction and providing a means to bring our actions together with our intentions.
Read MoreI want to say there is kind of a Buddhist “rote” answer, and that would be “no” to euthanasia and “yes” to letting the animal die naturally. But I think the dharma goes much deeper than simply giving us “rote” answers.
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