My dog doesn't listen to me either...

I did not know of the friendship between Martin Luther King Jr. and Thich Nhat Hanh. This story takes a look at their bond and shared commitment to build “beloved community.” I’ll also be checking out the book on the subject, “Brothers in the Beloved Community.”

When you have a break in your day & you’re about to look at your phone, look inside instead. How’s the state of your mind? If it’s disturbed, try some breathing meditation or another practice to restore mental peace. Be present, be peaceful, be thankful. Then carry on with your day…

The exploration to wake up to reality – the essential path to mental freedom – is a never-ending journey. Are reality and phenomena we experience just like a dream – like The Matrix? JoAnn Fox explores.

Our world is in need of more lovingkindness – and it starts with each of us. Lovingkindness meditative practice, also known as metta, has tremendous benefits for all. This Lion’s Roar primer provides information on it as well as guided meditations and related articles.

Wishing you a happy and peaceful day...

I can’t recall in recent history so much US news coverage on a Buddhist subject like the Walk for Peace being conducted by a group of monks traveling from Texas to Washington, DC. There was even a TV piece on proper ways to interact with them.

Our feelings of like, dislike or indifference to people are a function of our mind. They vary from person to person & make the mind unbalanced & unpeaceful. By developing equanimity, an equally warm and friendly attitude toward all living beings, we can increase our happiness.

Check out EightfoldPath.com, a new AI-powered website with Q & A on Buddhism in real time, and access to guided meditations, podcasts, courses and more. It was developed by Noah Rasheta, host of the Secular Buddhism podcast and author of several books.

We should know that all phenomena that we normally see or perceive are like illusions. It’s just an appearance to mind.

From a stray in India to a viral sensation: Aloka the Peace Dog is a notable member of the 2,300-mile Walk for Peace being conducted by Buddhist monks.

Problem? No problem...

Buddhist George Saunders, author of the wonderful book “Lincoln in the Bardo,” discusses kindness, karma, ditching delusions, and his new book “Vigil.”

Emptiness isn’t nothingness – it’s the true nature of reality. All phenomena, including our self, lack inherent, independent existence; all things are imputed by the mind. Meditating on emptiness can reveal deep peace and oppose suffering.

Music touches the soul. We may be partial to a particular genre, but its impact is all but universal. This piece takes a look at music within a spiritual context, and specifically how Buddhist form and practice evolves across cultures.

How do we learn to find peace within when faced with an often chaotic external world? The mind has a knack to amplify any problems in our lives. The question is how we process them, apply patience and recognize how the mind imputes/interprets situations.

Breathing meditation is a simple and accessible way to calm our mind – to tap into its spaciousness and Buddha nature. I start any of my meditations with it or do it on its own. Have a great meditation and happy day.

Doubt as a Buddhist practice? Ezra Klein speaks with Stephen Batchelor, author of many books on Buddhism & meditation. Their conversation focuses on the contemplation “What Is This?,” which draws from Seon meditation & is part of Socratic questioning. The podcast also includes a transcript.

In our society it seems like karma is yielded as a weapon: negativity will visit someone we don’t like. In reality, it’s like a law of nature: actions bring about corresponding results, be them positive or negative. Fortunately, we can purify negative karma.

Wishing all a new year of happiness, peace, fullfillment. Much love...

“Once you let go of your attachment and expectations that things are supposed to be a certain way, you can find much more peace in your life… You actually have to actively work at detaching yourself from those things... It's not an easy thing to do.”

Dec 29 A musical blast from the past: All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. As we approach a new year, been thinking about the transience of life and the endless flow of change.

Wisdom kitties

For your viewing pleasure: the 2006 Nepali film “Karma,” which follows the journey – inner and outer – of a nun across Nepal. The memorable film explores universal themes such as faith, duty and the human struggle.

Developing a warm heart, known as affectionate love, relies on identifying all people as who they truly are – at some point they have been our mother in our countless lives. This beneficial belief, this wisdom, is transformational.

Happy holidays, all!

Be compassion and kindness in our world...

Did Buddha grasp the structure of the universe long before modern astronomy? Professor Ben Van Overmeire at Duke Kunshun University is studying the nexus of Buddhist studies, intellectual history and astroculture.

We may think that negative states of mind – like attachment, anger, greed, etc. – are natural to the mind. They are not; they are delusions to be abandoned. Positive states of mind like love, compassion, joy and peace are natural to the mind – the Buddha nature we can cultivate.

Their journey began nearly a month ago and is expected to end in February with an event in Washington, DC.: the 2,300-mile Walk for Peace of 19 Buddhist monks. They have shared that each step in their walk symbolizes “mindfulness, compassion, and the aspiration to bring harmony into the world.”

Today the Wayback Machine takes us back some 50 years to this interesting video gem: The Roaring Silence, a 1973 BBC documentary that takes a look at Tibetan Buddhist practice in Nepal and inside the Kopan Monastery.

Among Thích Nhất Hạnh’s key teachings were the five mindfulness trainings – his take on the five precepts that are the core ethical guidelines for lay Buddhists. His modern expression of them highlights their beneficial qualities and ability to reduce suffering.

Via Art & Psychology

The events of recent days brought to mind this statement on 9/11/01.

Anxiety seems to be omnipresent these days, especially given the situation of our world. Buddha addressed how most of our thoughts are unpeaceful, the root causes of identifying with such deluded thoughts of anger, attachment, fear and so on – and how we can change.

While neuroscience delves into the structures and chemistry of our brain & nervous system, Buddhist technology reveals the causes of what appears in our consciousness. Our mind is not just neural wiring – it’s also a map that we can shape. Rie discusses Buddhist cognitive science.

Compassion in action: Kelsang Virya is a Buddhist nun who helped found Mutual Aid Monday, which now feeds more than 400 vulnerable and unhoused people a week in Denver.

Often in today’s society it seems like we’re talking at each other rather than listening and connecting for a conversation. Are we being mindful to communicate in a manner that will have the most positive effect. Gen Demo discusses how our speech can foster harmony.

Not one size fits all: "The Buddha emphasized that his teachings would land differently for different people based on their own personalities, histories, and habits. And then each of us would be best served by the way forward that was most appropriate for our own needs.” –Sharon Salzberg

Want to dispel the root source of suffering in your life? Meditate more on emptiness.

The recent online event “Buddhist Voices for Immigration Justice,” focused on compassion, engaged Buddhism and an invitation to find unique, sustainable actions to address the situation. Links to recap and video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/live/DGxfGvd...