One of my favorite speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King is a sermon he gave called, “The Drum Major Instinct” in February, 1968 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. In this sermon, Dr. King defines the “drum major instinct” as the universal... Read more

A Zen master was once asked by a student, Where do you go when you die? The master replied, Im going straight to hell. The puzzled student asked, Why? The master replied, Because thats where Ill be needed most. With the chapter of 2023 about to clos... Read more

As the nights get a little cooler, I notice I’m craving more time to settle and slow down. Life can be so busy. My body is telling me to listen closely for taking pause and care.  I find that just as I want to get cozy with a cup of tea, the busyness of... Read more

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and ... Read more

  An excerpt from Dhamma Everywhere by Sayadaw U Tejaniya So, should you think or not think while practicing? You should be watchful of the kinds of thoughts that will increase craving, aversion, or delusion. When people say there shouldn’t be ... Read more

The heart qualities of loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity are known as the Brahma Viharas, or “Divine Abodes,” in the teachings of Buddhism.  The first of these heart qualities, loving-kindness or “Metta,” might be referred t... Read more

As desire abates, generosity is born. When we are present and connected, what else is there to do but give? An African proverb put it this way: “It is the heart that gives, the fingers just let go.” When someone in our family is hungry or in difficulty,... Read more

The tragedy and poignancy of greed, hate and delusion is evident everywhere. Surveying our own life, surveying the world – it can feel like too much. When overwhelm and too-much-ness arise, it’s challenging to discover new and creative ways of respondin... Read more

Metta is a Pali word that means lovingkindness, friendliness, goodwill or benevolence.  And while it is a foreign word to us, it not a foreign mindstate, it is a human quality that can be practiced and developed. It is practiced in meditation by repeati... Read more

As I sit in contemplation writing the sentiments of my heart, I want to acknowledge that I am sitting on the traditional homelands of the Tongva peoples.  I take this moment to recognize and honor their dedication to love, life and the land. I celebr... Read more