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Where does the enneagram come from?

August 20, 2019   |   Leave a reply

I’ve begun work on my book about the enneagram, something I’ve wanted to write for a long time. I plan to do so from a Buddhist perspective. I am discovering what this means in the act of writing. It is quite natural to wonder, “where does it come from?” Good question. I have searched high and low for the answer.... READ MORE

How to be Happy: Step Four

August 19, 2019   |   1 Comment

Meditation begins at 10:13 Audio only is here. Hello, dear meditator. I hope you are well and feeling strong and confident in your innate goodness. For the past few weeks, we have been looking at the six paramitas or transcendent actions. Paramita means “arrived at the other shore.” In our case, the other shore is the world where decency, sanity,... READ MORE

The Bow

August 15, 2019   |   Leave a reply

At the end of a yoga or meditation class, it is common to close with a bow. Hands are in Anjali mudra (as pictured). Then…what? For us in the West, bowing feels like subservience in motion. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Bowing is actually a gesture of power and generosity. . First, you bring your palms together. Left... READ MORE

Kripalu

August 14, 2019   |   Leave a reply

Here I am, about to start teaching a program at Kripalu, a lovely program/retreat center in Western Massachusetts. I took these photos when I went to see our program room just before it filled. ⁣ ⁣⁣ 50 people would soon take their seats for “The Power of Meditation.” Who are they? What do they think meditation is? What do they... READ MORE

How to be Happy: Step Three

August 12, 2019   |   Leave a reply

Meditation begins at 14:12 Audio only is here. Hello, dear meditator. We are investigating the six paramitas or transcendent actions, aka the virtues that lead to a world of sanity, goodness, peace, and joy. What’s not to like?! Today we investigate the third paramita, patience. If you missed the first two, they are here and here. Thoughts? Was there a... READ MORE

How to Be Happy: Step Two

August 5, 2019   |   Leave a reply

Meditation begins at 10:40 Audio only is here. Hello, dear meditator. In the Buddhist view, there are six steps we can take to create more happiness for ourselves and others, starting immediately. They are known as the six paramitas or six perfections. Last week, we took a look at the first paramita, generosity, of which there are three kinds. (If... READ MORE

How to be happy: Step One (of six)

July 29, 2019   |   1 Comment

Meditation begins at 14:35 Audio only is here. I am taking a few weeks off to plan and dream about what to offer you in the Open Heart Project in 2020. (Thank you, summer.) So for the next 6 weeks, I’m going to resend the six-video series we completed earlier this year on the six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, exertion,... READ MORE

Your questions answered here!

April 15, 2015   |   1 Comment

Thank you, Kris, for these excellent questions. Q1: As for putting our attention on our breath, would you want to speak to the relationship between putting my attention on my thoughts and (not) sort of leaving my body? I feel like sometimes what is happening for me is that while focusing on my breath, and labeling my thoughts, I lose... READ MORE

Transforming Betrayal and Non-Closure

March 25, 2015   |   3 Comments

I wanted to use today’s email to respond to a post (on our Facebook page) from Barba Twin regarding anger and forgiveness. In it, she describes a situation that many of you may be familiar with: a relationship that has ended with no opportunity for closure. The person seeking it is then left on his or her own to find... READ MORE

Do.

May 9, 2012   |   17 Comments

In the last newsletter, I offered a review of some basic “don’ts.” Today is part 2: the “dos.” I know that some of you may have heard these things before, but, really, we can’t hear such things too many times. Without further ado, please do:

Don't

May 6, 2012   |   18 Comments

Some thoughts on some of the most basic misconceptions and nutty side trips we all make when it comes to meditation We can’t hear these things too many times. And now, without further ado, please do not:

Confidence

May 3, 2012   |   17 Comments

This past weekend, I was teaching at the Providence, RI Shambhala Center. We spent the entire time talking about fearlessness—what it was, how fear maintains its grip on us, how to loosen it, and how to manifest fearlessness in our lives. My final talk was on confidence and it was meant to be a culmination of the entire program. As... READ MORE