1. June 2009 by admin.

I’ve woken up this morning with a new resolution… that is, to take the time to organize my email filters, so that not all my emails come up during my work day.  Some friends recently suggested this, when I asked about how to feel more organized and less distracted during the day.

Maybe I’m late to come to this realization, but it occurs to me that this is a good yoga practice.  In yoga, we work to train our minds to support us in our quest for happiness.  For me, getting emails from the many corners of my life throughout the day does not contribute to my sense of calm.  It may make me feel connected, to lots of people and things, but that doesn’t help me be 100% connected to what I’m doing in each moment.

So, I’m taking the extra minutes, to learn the filters in my email program.  Hoping that this small investment of time, will help me with the tapas, or discipline, of being present with whatever I’ve set my mind to in each moment.  I also want to have my calendar send me reminders of “to do’s,” but that might have to wait for another day.  I’m concentrating on this for now.

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20. April 2009 by admin.

If you have 53 or so minutes, treat yourself to this interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn on the Science of Mindfulness.  It’s new, it’s great, it’s inspiring.  http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2009/opening-to-our-lives/

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31. March 2009 by admin.

“Compassion without attachment is possible. Therefore, we need to clarify the distinctions between compassion and attachment. True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the needs of the other.”

- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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15. March 2009 by admin.

Check out this excellent interview by Terry Gross, Fresh Air, with Johan Lehrer.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101334645

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25. February 2009 by admin.

I learned this week of another dear friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  It challenges me to call on some of my tools for coping with fear and loss.  One of my favorites of these tools is the “5 Remembrances” of the Buddha, as translated by Thich Nhat Hanh.  I found this beautiful portrayal, created by www.plumvillage.org.

5 Remembrances, Thich Nhat Hanh

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10. February 2009 by admin.

“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.” - His Holiness the Dalai Lama

I find that when I’m having trouble with someone, or even understanding a group of people, that these concepts are helpful to remember.

Long live HHDL!

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9. February 2009 by admin.

As I start this Monday morning, with more things on my unwritten to-do list, I find myself feeling behind, feeling rushed, feeling like there isn’t enough time.  It’s a common feeling for many of us.  If we take time away from work on the weekends, we’re often confronted with a wall of responsibilities on Monday morning.

My newest “to do’s” include this blog & a twitter account.  So, as I sat here, wondering what to write, I asked myself - What yoga lesson exists here?  What most needs to be learned in this situation?

What I’ve come up with is the yama concept of aparigraha, or non-possessiveness, non-grasping.  If I can loosen my grip and my mind about these new (to me) web tools, and not worry about writing the perfect entry, and doing this with the best web optimization, I can relax into my morning.

Whatever this is, it is.  It can be a breath, it can be a transition, it can be a practice in self-acceptance.

So, if by chance you’ve found your way here.  I invite you to ask yourself… what in your life, in this moment, might benefit from a looser grip?  What might be a little more enjoyable, if you just trusted a little bit more, that everything will be okay?

So, with that, I’m going to let go of the Twitter idea for the moment and let this be enough.  Ahhh, that feels better….

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