Meditation doesn’t need to be a complicated process.  Many people think that if they can’t turn their thoughts off or sit still, they can’t meditate.  But the definition of meditation doesn’t have to be narrow.  It can be as simple as becoming more mindful, creating pauses throughout the day in … Continue reading →

How you approach your practice, your poses, is more important by far than how you look.  Practice is a process, not an achievement.  Be patient.  Practice with honesty and gentleness towards yourself.  Go into and out of each pose thoughtfully.  Pay attention.  Be there for yourself so you can experience … Continue reading →

In Classical yoga, the body is seen as inferior to the spirit.  It is something to be subdued through fasting and extreme discipline, something to overcome, something that is a hindrance to enlightenment. Tantra yoga, a practice in mindfulness, is a different approach, an approach that works for me.  This … Continue reading →

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.  — Buddha  

Wu wei is the Daoist idea of acting without effort, or being in the zone.  I have always tried hard at things, well—maybe not so much at math, unfortunately for me–but at most things.  Recently, I have been thinking that trying “hard” hasn’t served me well.  Why don’t I try … Continue reading →

Yoga is the union of opposites just as the Dao is the union of yin and yang.  To live our best life, we need to find a balance of opposites, of yin and yang: flexibility and strength, space and boundaries, guidance and exploration.  We are all the same, and we … Continue reading →

Atisha is a Buddhist sage who has written a number of slogans (59) which can be used as guides for growth.  The one I am thinking about today is this: “Don’t try to be the fastest.”  What a foreign idea to our competitive world, but profoundly wise!  What joy does … Continue reading →

May you be at peace. May your heart remain open. May you awaken to the light of your own true nature. May you be healed. May you be a source of healing for all beings.

Consider all aspects of what you normally do as part of your path. Work is a path to practice. Do not dread anything. Sometimes you will find yourself working in an intense environment with a lot of darkness or sadness. It is still possible to express goodness, gentleness, kindness. All … Continue reading →

I was thinking back to my dissertation today. What a journey of discovery! If I had known in advance where it would have led me, it would have been much quicker to complete and far less stressful. But it would not have been original, exciting, or a discovery. I would … Continue reading →