The debate over whether religiously affiliated institutions have to provide access to contraception is presented by some as a defense of religious liberty. The liberty being defended is revealed to be no liberty at all.
Obese people are bullied and often treated with disrespect, even by people who are otherwise kind, considerate individuals. People like us.
When we look outward instead of inward, it is easy to become disconnected from a deep sense of the relevance of our being and our connection to one another.
True friendship is about meeting in the place of truth, and loving and supporting each other there. Anything else is just a paler shade of polite.
As you practice meditation, please try to remember that you are cultivating a kind of indestructible resilience, the ability to always return to balance. Thus you can afford to open, further and further. This is what is meant by softness.
It will only happen if we all get involved. If we use our intelligence, our money and our influence to make a difference. It will only happen If we are willing to make some sacrifices in the name of compassion.
Self-criticism is pretty common. After all, we are usually the world's number one experts on our own shortcomings. If finding fault with ourselves was a virtue, most of us would be saints.
For most of us, being around dying and death evokes a visceral response of fear and avoidance. We basically view life as good and death as bad. Our fear makes us contract and respond in fight or flight or freeze mode.
The heart is our emotional home where all our struggles, doubts and hurts are felt, as well as our longings, yearnings, joys and delights.
When you rejoice in beauty, the entire creation rejoices with you. The very purpose of such variety in this creation is to bring you back to your Self, to come to know that you are beautiful. And in that bliss, all that you need, all that you would want will simply keep happening.
Last year, I had to pick out my own birthday card on behalf of my father who no longer drives because he wanted to make sure I received a card from him. Surprisingly enough, that was one of the most fun experiences of my life! I could be anything I wanted!
Why do we blame ourselves and others? What is the payoff?
The human experience is based on exchange and connectedness. We do need each other to experience and to share.
Even though every cloud might have a silver lining, does it really make sense to actually be thankful for the tragic, even horrific events in our lives? John Castagnini thinks so.
You can call me naïve, but I believe that to save the human race and this magnificent planet we are on, compassion must be part of our daily prayer.
We have lost our way. We have lost our universal identity as a brotherhood of people. So caught up in the distinction of skin color, races and nations, we have lost our true connection with God.
Good relationships don't just happen. I've discovered seven choices you can make that will not only improve your relationship, but can turn a failing relationship into a successful one.
Religion rejects the arrogance of those who assume that by virtue of the fact that they are here now, they possess greater insight into the human condition than revered teachers of old.
Reason can no longer stand alone as the sole basis for our reality. It is time to integrate our gifts of reason and the intellect with our gifts of intuition and the path of the heart.
A ghost gradually becomes an ancestor, and traumatic experiences become memories, by a most human alchemy. The beloved community provides the inspiration, the spirit of support, so we can stop holding our breaths in traumatic reaction and anticipation, and finally exhale.
You would think that, as an Iyengar-style yoga teacher of three (mere) years' standing, I might at least notice if a one-legged yogini (female yoga student) "walked" into my classroom. Reader, I did not notice.
Practicing gratitude reminds us that we are part of a beautiful whole, supported and loved. When you begin to feel stressed, alone or anxious, consider the things you are thankful for.
When we take a step back and remember that most of the time people aren't "out to get us," we can save ourselves from unnecessary overreactions and stress.
It isn't easy keeping an open heart in the face of greed and arrogance in an environment that does not support and respect you, but holding on to a wider vision of life can be transformative and healing.
Compassion begets compassion and there's actually a synergistic relationship, not a trade-off, when we show compassion for animals and their homes.
