I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” —J.R.R. Tolkein “The Fellowship… [Continue reading]
Buddhism
Are We There Yet?
When I am feeling down and alone, I often feel soothed by listening to dharma talks by Jack Kornfield, one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He moves me, often makes me laugh, and always gives me valuable perspective on the human condition. Listening to him, I invariably feel… [Continue reading]
The Five Remembrances
This is a picture of a sand mandala, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist symbol of transience. Tibetan Buddhist monks perform a ritual of meticulously creating beautiful intricate mandalas from colored sand, which they then ceremonially destroy, symbolically representing and reminding us of the doctrinal Buddhist belief that impermanence is the quintessential quality of our lives. My… [Continue reading]
