Retreat practice is the marrow of meditation. The precious privilege we sometimes have when the stars align and all the right causes and conditions of our intentions and efforts to go on retreat all seem to come to fruition. Retreat practice for m... Read more

“The sangha is an island of peace.”  Thich Nhat Hanh We cannot walk this path alone. As the famous story goes, the Buddha and his devoted attendant, Ananda, were sitting alone on a hill together, overlooking the plains of the Ganges. Feeling i... Read more

Before we can cultivate genuine loving-kindness and compassion for ourselves and others, we need to be aware of what qualities are actually present in the mind. How can we cultivate loving-kindness and compassion if hatred is present in the mind? If w... Read more

I started this post by lighting my Quan Yin candle. Quan Yin is known as “She who hears the sounds or cries of the world.” I put her above my computer so we could join forces in compassion. I facilitate the Chronic Pain and Illness Practice and Affin... Read more

Why are we born? Why must we die? What value can we create from this fleeting existence? What do the teachings of the dharma, of mindfulness and compassion, have to offer in a time of tragedy? It was from the search for answers to these questions that... Read more

As meditation practice develops over the years, it is natural to have greater appreciation for simplicity. In Buddhist understanding, simplicity is a practice, a state of mind, and a quality of heart. It is associated with happiness and even liberatio... Read more

wildwomxn was birthed pre-pandemic, just as the Women’s Marches and #metoo were upending the conversation for gender equality. Society was shining a new light on the challenges of living in a female body; we were empowered. Newly emerged from the ILA ... Read more

Black History Month has been observed in the United States since 1976. Although the annual celebration is during February, amplifying Black voices, stories, and history is important year-round. The theme for 2022 is health and wellness, in honor of Bl... Read more

I love how Ken McLeod describes Dukkha as a struggle because it stops me from spiritually bypassing. While I can attest to having much less struggle in my life from when I first stepped onto the Buddhist path, I can see how I can still struggle. Who w... Read more

The first time I sat down to meditate, I received two simple instructions: Focus on your breath; and as thoughts arise, let them go. It seemed simple, though as any of you fellow meditators know, this practice alone can last a lifetime.  What I notic... Read more