Dear Friends, In our last reflection, we explored what inspires energy in our practice, including reflecting on impermanence, the uncertainty of life, and the inevitability of death as motivators for wise effort. The poem “If You Knew” by Ellen Bass offers a poignant lens for deepening this exploration. Her words remind us of life’s fleeting nature, the moments… Read More »
Dear Friends, In one of his talks, Gil says, “right view is the orientation, the frame of reference, the insight into the changing nature of this life of ours.” He then gives an example, that I often notice in my own thought patterns: I might think that I’m having a lousy day. And the concept of lousy days… Read More »
Dear Friends, In the progression of discussing sati, mindfulness, so far, Gil has laid out a progression: we wake up to the present moment; we develop clear recognition of what is happening in the moment; we learn skills to sustain this recognition through time and observe the flow of experience without adding stories. Gil’s next step in the… Read More »
Dear Friends I’m on retreat this weekend, but I’ve queued up this message to keep you company until I’m back on line on Monday. There’s a poem I appreciate from Kay Ryan: The Niagara River As though the river were a floor, we position our table and chairs upon it, eat, and have conversation. As it moves along,… Read More »
