Itadakimas
Itadakimas is an important word in the Japanese language. Literally, it means, “I place this over my head,” and is translated as “I humbly receive.” It is the blessing which all Japanese, from the day laborer…
Category: Wisdom Traditions
Mindfulness with Words
Before hurling insults and accusations at another, one should consider one’s own state of mind and circumstances. The tendency to lash out, defame, and belittle is an aspect of conceit. The scriptures illustrate it with…
Breathe, We Are Alive!
Concentration is Consecration. Eknath Easwaran In Thich Nhat Hanh’s 1993 revised edition of the Tiep Hien precepts, the 7th reads, in part, as follows: “Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both…
Jesus Wept
While on his travels Jesus passed by a rotting skull He commanded it to speak The skull said “Spirit of God My name is Balwan ibn Hafs King of Yemen I lived a thousand years…
A Cup of Tea (Fullness and Emptiness/1)
Nan-in was a Japanese master during the Meiji era One day he received a university professor Who came to inquire about Zen Nan-in served tea He poured his visitor’s cup full And then kept on…
Tales of Munindra: “Be Happy, Be Peaceful, Be Liberated”
for Chris Wallach Sometimes the loving-kindness he intoned emanated in such a compelling way that, as Lynne Bousfield says, “you just got hit by the metta.” David Hopkins recalls such an experience at Dhamma Giri when…
Share the Wealth with Chris Wallach
If you want to understand your mind, sit down and observe it. –Munindra, Bengali Buddhist At the end of March, Chris Wallach spent a week on silent retreat at the Insight Meditation Society retreat center…
Reminder
Present moment Precious moment Only moment
This Is It!
Think about arranging the present as best you can, with serene mind. All else is carried away as by a river…. While we are talking, jealous time has fled. So seize the day, and do…