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As the Wheel Turns

2015-06-26T12:40:42-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

NOTES FROM A TIDEPOOL : Mindfulness & Compassion

Last updated on: June 26, 2015 at 12:40 pm   By Gary Gach

SAN FRANCISCO – Dr Lewis Thomas once compared the scientific community to a tidepool. Science progresses when a naturalist explores the entire pool, perimeter, depths, and nooks and crannies, and discerns particular groupings and connections amongst the various lifeforms – the organisms, in this analogy, standing for scientists and also their research papers. Such spirit of advance was the nature of MINDFULNESS & COMPASSION : The Art & Science of Contemplative Practice. As quietly as the fog rolling in, and as... Read more

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compassion

history

mindfulness

neuroscience

2013-01-03T09:15:48-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Zen Monk’s Letter to Adam Lanza

Last updated on: January 3, 2013 at 9:15 am   By Gary Gach

Dear Reader ————— What if you wrote a letter to Adam Lanza : what might you say ? Here’s one, from a young man who grew up at 22 Lake Road, Newtown, Connecticut. Born Douglas Bachman, he’s now a Buddhist monk, named Phap Luu, teaching applied ethics and the art of mindful living to students and school teachers. He lives in Plum Village Monastery, in Thenac, France.     Dear Adam, Let me start by saying that I wish for you... Read more

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Adam Lanza

Letter

Newtown

nonviolence

Pacifism

Sandy Hook

Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh

Violence

2012-09-09T17:33:01-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Step Into the Clouds

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 5:33 pm   By Rick Hanson

Juggling bricks? The Practice: Step into the cloud. Why? I had a lightbulb moment recently: I was feeling stressed about all the stuff I had to do (you probably know the feeling). After this went on for a while, I stepped back and kind of watched my mind, and could see that I was thinking of these various tasks as things, like big rocks that were rolling down a hill toward me and which needed to be handled, lifted, moved,... Read more

Inner Peace

2012-09-09T17:24:17-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hold Wants Lightly

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 5:24 pm   By Rick Hanson

What do you want? The Practice: Hold wants lightly. Why? Getting caught up in wanting – wanting both to get what’s pleasant and to avoid what’s unpleasant – is a major source of suffering and harm for oneself and others. First, a lot of what we want to get comes with a big price tag – such as that second cupcake, constant stimulation via TV and websites, lashing out in anger, intoxication, over-working, or manipulating others to get approval or... Read more

Happiness

Inner Peace

2012-08-01T15:23:33-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

OPEN LETTER : Taking a Stand Against Islamaphobia

Last updated on: August 1, 2012 at 3:23 pm   By Gary Gach

BOSTON / LOS ANGELES — This Open Letter comes to us via Joshua Eaton, a journalist writing about Buddhism, religion and politics, poverty, and the American South. He is also a Tibetan translator. Also, Rev. Danny Fisher, a professor and Coordinator of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Department at University of the West (and no stranger to Patheos) collaborated on it in key ways. The letter’s motivated by recent news reports, as well as a long-standing, deep-rooted sense of social justice. This... Read more

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Buddhists

engaged Buddhism

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Islamaphobia

Ramadan

2012-09-09T17:13:02-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Drop Tart Tone

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 5:13 pm   By Rick Hanson

Feeling a little sour? The Practice: Drop tart tone. Why? Tone matters. I remember times I felt frazzled or aggravated and then said something with an edge to it that just wasn’t necessary or useful. Sometimes it was the words themselves: such as absolutes like “never” or always,” or over-the-top phrases like “you’re such a flake” or “that was stupid.” More often it was the intonation in my voice, a harsh vibe or look, interrupting, or a certain intensity in... Read more

Happiness

Relationships

Benevolence

brain

Buddha's Brain

Buddhism

Contemplative Practice

happiness

Just One Thing

love

Mind Brain

mindfulness

neuroplasticity

Positive Psychology

relationships

Rick Hanson

wisdom

2012-09-09T17:10:37-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lower the Pressure

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 5:10 pm   By Rick Hanson

Is it truly urgent? The Practice: Lower the pressure. Why? Things come at us with so much urgency and demand these days. Phones ring, texts buzz, emails pile up, new balls have to be juggled, work days lengthen and move into evenings and weekends, traffic gets denser, financial demands feel like a knife at the neck, ads and news clamor for attention, push push push PUSH. On top of these external pressures, we deal with internal ones as well. These... Read more

Happiness

Inner Peace

Benevolence

brain

Buddha's Brain

Buddhism

Contemplative Practice

happiness

Just One Thing

love

Mind Brain

mindfulness

neuroplasticity

Positive Psychology

relationships

Rick Hanson

wisdom

2012-09-09T17:08:54-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

See Beings Not Bodies

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 5:08 pm   By Rick Hanson

What happens when you look at someone? The Practice: See beings, not bodies. Why? When we encounter someone, usually the mind automatically slots the person into a category: man, woman, your friend Tom, the kid next door, etc. Watch this happen in your own mind as you meet or talk with a co-worker, salesclerk, or family member. In effect, the mind summarizes and simplifies tons of details into a single thing – a human thing to be sure, but one with... Read more

Generosity

Happiness

Relationships

Benevolence

brain

Buddha's Brain

Buddhism

Contemplative Practice

happiness

Just One Thing

love

Mind Brain

mindfulness

neuroplasticity

Positive Psychology

relationships

Rick Hanson

wisdom

2012-09-09T16:33:56-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Receive Generosity

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 4:33 pm   By Rick Hanson

Do you accept the gift? The Practice: Receive generosity. Why? Life gives to each one of us in so many ways. For starters, there’s the bounty of the senses – including chocolate chip cookies, jasmine, sunsets, wind singing through pine trees, and just getting your back scratched. What does life give you? Consider the kindness of friends and family, made more tangible during a holiday season, but of course continuing throughout the year. Or the giving of the people whose... Read more

Generosity

Happiness

Heart

Relationships

Benevolence

brain

Buddha's Brain

Buddhism

Contemplative Practice

happiness

Just One Thing

love

Mind Brain

mindfulness

neuroplasticity

Positive Psychology

relationships

Rick Hanson

wisdom

2012-09-09T16:36:17-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 4:36 pm   By Rick Hanson

What’s the most important thing? The Practice: Keep your eyes on the prize. Why? Have you heard this saying? The most important thing is to remember the most important thing. What are the most important things to you? In your life as a whole? During a particular interaction with someone? Right this minute? The most important things often get pushed to the sidelines. Urgent crowds out important. Modern life is full of distracting clamor, from text messages and emails to... Read more

Happiness

Heart

Inner Peace

Benevolence

brain

Buddha's Brain

Buddhism

Contemplative Practice

happiness

Just One Thing

love

Mind Brain

mindfulness

neuroplasticity

Positive Psychology

relationships

Rick Hanson

wisdom



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