- Published on
The Sanskrit word for lovingkindness is maitri (pronounced “my tree”) which also means friendliness or goodwill. Different from love that is shaped by desire or attachment, the basis of lovingkindness is caring for others without seeking any benefit for yourself. As Dr. John Douillard is fond of saying, “I love you but it’s no concern of yours.”
Remember the Four Boundless States we began to discuss in the last post: Equanimity, Lovingkindness, Compassion and Joy. Lovingkindness builds on Equanimity as it challenges us to extend goodwill to ALL, not just those we know or like. In fact, begin to see that all beings want to be happy and free, just like us. When we share these positive qualities with others we are also cultivating them in ourselves. That’s a win-win!
For this reason, practicing lovingkindness is a cornerstone of meditation practice. And it’s so very simple to practice.
Begin by making a list of several states you would like for yourself, such as
I want to be safe
I want to be well
I want to be peaceful
I want to be happy
From the list choose 3-6 statements you would like to repeat silently for yourself: May I be safe. May I be well. May I be peaceful. May I be happy. Repeat them one after the other or repeat one several times before moving onto the next. As you breathe slowly and deeply, allow the truth of these statements to sink deep into your mind and heart.
Lovingkindness can now be extended to others. Choose a person or other being (such as a beloved companion animal) to whom you would like to extend friendship and goodwill. Envisioning this one, offer the same positive statements to them.
Next, send lovingkindness to someone for whom you have neutral feelings, meaning they are not especially beloved or despised, just someone who you have not formed an opinion about, such as a clerk in a store.
Finally, send lovingkindness to someone with whom you have difficulty, perhaps someone who has a viewpoint different from yours. Breathing slowly and deeply, offer the positive statements to them, recognizing that this may be challenging.
A really fun way to practice lovingkindness is to share it whenever and wherever you go. Silently send a few statements of goodwill to other drivers, to colleagues at work, to family members at home, even government leaders. Do you know folks who are sick or dealing with difficulty? Send them lovingkindness. Are you concerned about a situation that’s ongoing or coming up soon? Send lovingkindness to everyone involved.
“To love is, first of all, to accept ourselves as we actually are. That is why in this love meditation, ‘Know thyself’ is the first practice of love.” –Thich Nhat Hanh
Remember the Four Boundless States we began to discuss in the last post: Equanimity, Lovingkindness, Compassion and Joy. Lovingkindness builds on Equanimity as it challenges us to extend goodwill to ALL, not just those we know or like. In fact, begin to see that all beings want to be happy and free, just like us. When we share these positive qualities with others we are also cultivating them in ourselves. That’s a win-win!
For this reason, practicing lovingkindness is a cornerstone of meditation practice. And it’s so very simple to practice.
Begin by making a list of several states you would like for yourself, such as
I want to be safe
I want to be well
I want to be peaceful
I want to be happy
From the list choose 3-6 statements you would like to repeat silently for yourself: May I be safe. May I be well. May I be peaceful. May I be happy. Repeat them one after the other or repeat one several times before moving onto the next. As you breathe slowly and deeply, allow the truth of these statements to sink deep into your mind and heart.
Lovingkindness can now be extended to others. Choose a person or other being (such as a beloved companion animal) to whom you would like to extend friendship and goodwill. Envisioning this one, offer the same positive statements to them.
Next, send lovingkindness to someone for whom you have neutral feelings, meaning they are not especially beloved or despised, just someone who you have not formed an opinion about, such as a clerk in a store.
Finally, send lovingkindness to someone with whom you have difficulty, perhaps someone who has a viewpoint different from yours. Breathing slowly and deeply, offer the positive statements to them, recognizing that this may be challenging.
A really fun way to practice lovingkindness is to share it whenever and wherever you go. Silently send a few statements of goodwill to other drivers, to colleagues at work, to family members at home, even government leaders. Do you know folks who are sick or dealing with difficulty? Send them lovingkindness. Are you concerned about a situation that’s ongoing or coming up soon? Send lovingkindness to everyone involved.
“To love is, first of all, to accept ourselves as we actually are. That is why in this love meditation, ‘Know thyself’ is the first practice of love.” –Thich Nhat Hanh
- Published on
Equanimity is balance and the ability to be at peace with things as they are. Neither one of those qualities is easy to maintain as the busy-ness of life easily pushes us out of balance and it’s hard to be at peace with a world that seems anything but peaceful. So why is it that both Buddhism and the Yoga tradition point us in that direction?
Because we have the key to abiding inner peace; when we are steady in our mind we have balance no matter how topsy turvy is the world around us.
In Buddhism, equanimity if one of the Four Boundless States. The four are Equanimity, Lovingkindness, Compassion and Joy. In the Yoga tradition they are echoed in chapter 1 verse 33 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:
“By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.” -translated by Swami Satchidananda
When you read “disregard toward the wicked” you get the idea of why and how equanimity can restore our mental health and make it possible for us to live more harmoniously in community. That phrase “the wicked” is an interesting one because it is so very subjective. Let’s face it, what you think is “wicked” is quite different from what your neighbor thinks is “wicked.” And this disagreement can become the basis of a feud. We see this playing out all over the place, don’t we?!
When we practice equanimity, we take a balanced approach to the people and situations we encounter, recognizing that each one shows up and plays out according to the past events which have shaped it. In this context, what makes something “wicked” for us is often our own perception of it and our strong sense that we do not want it to be part of our world.
Here is a simple practice of equanimity shared in a recent article by Pascal Auclair in Tricycle magazine. You might like to have a journal nearby so you can write reflections about the experience.
Consider a situation or relationship where you are experiencing difficulty, what you might consider the “wicked” you want to bring more balance to. Choose just one thing for this practice. Set your intention: “I’m really interested in keeping balance of mind. I’m really interested in seeing if it’s possible to keep the mind stable and balanced and not fall into worry or fear.”
Notice how your body feels when you set this intention. Ask yourself: Can I be OK with whatever shows up in this practice? (that’s another definition of equanimity!)
What is happening in this situation or relationship? See if you can describe it without making judgments or placing blame, and without trying to solve the problem. (This part can be tricky, so take your time.)
Say silently or out loud: “This is the difficulty I am (or you are) experiencing. This is how it is right now.” Sit with this realization for a while. Do any insights arise? Write about them in your journal.
Finally, send a blessing to yourself or others: “May I (or you) find within myself or around me the resources needed to overcome this or accept this.”
Sit with this blessing a while longer. What do you feel in your body? What thoughts arise in your mind? Stay present and write your reflections in your journal.
Return to this practice again each day to strengthen the powerful quality of equanimity. It will transform your relationships with others and cultivate more peace on your life journey.
“Equanimity requires a strong, courageous intention to stay in balanced contact with what we face.” -Pascal Auclair
Because we have the key to abiding inner peace; when we are steady in our mind we have balance no matter how topsy turvy is the world around us.
In Buddhism, equanimity if one of the Four Boundless States. The four are Equanimity, Lovingkindness, Compassion and Joy. In the Yoga tradition they are echoed in chapter 1 verse 33 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:
“By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.” -translated by Swami Satchidananda
When you read “disregard toward the wicked” you get the idea of why and how equanimity can restore our mental health and make it possible for us to live more harmoniously in community. That phrase “the wicked” is an interesting one because it is so very subjective. Let’s face it, what you think is “wicked” is quite different from what your neighbor thinks is “wicked.” And this disagreement can become the basis of a feud. We see this playing out all over the place, don’t we?!
When we practice equanimity, we take a balanced approach to the people and situations we encounter, recognizing that each one shows up and plays out according to the past events which have shaped it. In this context, what makes something “wicked” for us is often our own perception of it and our strong sense that we do not want it to be part of our world.
Here is a simple practice of equanimity shared in a recent article by Pascal Auclair in Tricycle magazine. You might like to have a journal nearby so you can write reflections about the experience.
Consider a situation or relationship where you are experiencing difficulty, what you might consider the “wicked” you want to bring more balance to. Choose just one thing for this practice. Set your intention: “I’m really interested in keeping balance of mind. I’m really interested in seeing if it’s possible to keep the mind stable and balanced and not fall into worry or fear.”
Notice how your body feels when you set this intention. Ask yourself: Can I be OK with whatever shows up in this practice? (that’s another definition of equanimity!)
What is happening in this situation or relationship? See if you can describe it without making judgments or placing blame, and without trying to solve the problem. (This part can be tricky, so take your time.)
Say silently or out loud: “This is the difficulty I am (or you are) experiencing. This is how it is right now.” Sit with this realization for a while. Do any insights arise? Write about them in your journal.
Finally, send a blessing to yourself or others: “May I (or you) find within myself or around me the resources needed to overcome this or accept this.”
Sit with this blessing a while longer. What do you feel in your body? What thoughts arise in your mind? Stay present and write your reflections in your journal.
Return to this practice again each day to strengthen the powerful quality of equanimity. It will transform your relationships with others and cultivate more peace on your life journey.
“Equanimity requires a strong, courageous intention to stay in balanced contact with what we face.” -Pascal Auclair
- Published on
As we come to the end of another year and prepare to begin yet another year, I am happy to share a concept I learned from my yoga teacher, Judith Hanson Lasater. I’m not sure if she discovered this piece of wisdom on her own or if she learned it from someone else, but it is truly inspired:
“Short term hard, long term easy”
Judith explains that this concept applies to everything in life, and especially to those things that we consider important and meaningful. When we want to learn a new skill, for example, it can be very hard in the short term. There are so many new aspects that we have to assimilate all at once. But if we are diligent about our lessons and really push ourselves through the difficult times, the long term becomes quite easy as our skills become second nature and a part of our everyday lives.
As we make the annual turnover, let’s consider the yoga practices that can be for us short term hard, long term easy:
Meditate every day. Sit still for 5 minutes, gradually adding more time, and before you know it you’ll be easily sitting for 30 minutes every day.
Attend your weekly yoga classes, no excuses. Yes, there will always be something more interesting to do (really?!), but you will never reach the long term easy if you fail to show up on the mat.
Learn how to eat for your ayurvedic type. Wow, the learning curve can be quite steep when you study Ayurveda, however, the long term gains for your physical and mental health are immeasurable.
Embrace love, peace and joy as your path, not just when it is convenient, but especially when it is inconvenient. This is SO short term hard, but in the long term it WILL change the world.
“Short term hard, long term easy”
Judith explains that this concept applies to everything in life, and especially to those things that we consider important and meaningful. When we want to learn a new skill, for example, it can be very hard in the short term. There are so many new aspects that we have to assimilate all at once. But if we are diligent about our lessons and really push ourselves through the difficult times, the long term becomes quite easy as our skills become second nature and a part of our everyday lives.
As we make the annual turnover, let’s consider the yoga practices that can be for us short term hard, long term easy:
Meditate every day. Sit still for 5 minutes, gradually adding more time, and before you know it you’ll be easily sitting for 30 minutes every day.
Attend your weekly yoga classes, no excuses. Yes, there will always be something more interesting to do (really?!), but you will never reach the long term easy if you fail to show up on the mat.
Learn how to eat for your ayurvedic type. Wow, the learning curve can be quite steep when you study Ayurveda, however, the long term gains for your physical and mental health are immeasurable.
Embrace love, peace and joy as your path, not just when it is convenient, but especially when it is inconvenient. This is SO short term hard, but in the long term it WILL change the world.
- Published on
“Life is both dreadful and wonderful. To practice meditation is to be in touch with both aspects.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
I can really identify with these words from my esteemed teacher and venerable Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. So much of what we see in the world, and for many in our personal lives as well, is truly dreadful. Sometimes we don’t know how we can bear it. And much of the time life is truly wonderful too. So much joy, so much potential!
The wisdom of the Vedic and Buddhist teachers is that it is better not to attach to either view, neither wallowing in the pain nor seeking more of the pleasure. Why? Because both actions result in suffering. It’s pretty clear why rehashing the pain creates suffering, but the suffering that comes from pleasure is not always as evident. We all know that good times never last and that too much of a good thing (chocolate!) is painful. So it’s not the pleasure itself that causes suffering, but the need to hold onto pleasure as if it is the only possible experience we could have.
“Life is dreadful and wonderful.” We are destined to have both types of experience. We can hold them both in our awareness by accepting all that life brings our way without exception. This may seem like an impossible task, but the spiritual traditions do give us a way to do it—meditation.
Here is a meditation practice I learned from my ayurvedic teacher Dr. Vasant Lad. It’s called the empty bowl. It combines visualization with simple breathing to bring us into a state of present moment awareness. Through this practice we become capable of accepting all that flows toward us in the course of our day. I hope you will give it a try.
Sit comfortably in a cross-legged position or in a chair with feet on the floor and back upright. Open your palms and place the backs of the hands on the legs. Gently curl the fingers as if your hands are empty bowls. Watch the movement of your breath for a minute or two while letting all thoughts pass by. Once your attention is established, begin to breathe in this way: As you inhale, draw the breath into the body and imagine it can reach a point in your body just behind your navel. As you exhale, release the breath into the space about 9 inches in front of you. Repeat this breathing practice for 5 minutes, gradually increasing to 20 minutes. The empty bowls remind us of the baggage we carry in the form of regrets of the past and fear/worry about the future. Release attachment to these sources of suffering and live confidently in the present moment.
I can really identify with these words from my esteemed teacher and venerable Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. So much of what we see in the world, and for many in our personal lives as well, is truly dreadful. Sometimes we don’t know how we can bear it. And much of the time life is truly wonderful too. So much joy, so much potential!
The wisdom of the Vedic and Buddhist teachers is that it is better not to attach to either view, neither wallowing in the pain nor seeking more of the pleasure. Why? Because both actions result in suffering. It’s pretty clear why rehashing the pain creates suffering, but the suffering that comes from pleasure is not always as evident. We all know that good times never last and that too much of a good thing (chocolate!) is painful. So it’s not the pleasure itself that causes suffering, but the need to hold onto pleasure as if it is the only possible experience we could have.
“Life is dreadful and wonderful.” We are destined to have both types of experience. We can hold them both in our awareness by accepting all that life brings our way without exception. This may seem like an impossible task, but the spiritual traditions do give us a way to do it—meditation.
Here is a meditation practice I learned from my ayurvedic teacher Dr. Vasant Lad. It’s called the empty bowl. It combines visualization with simple breathing to bring us into a state of present moment awareness. Through this practice we become capable of accepting all that flows toward us in the course of our day. I hope you will give it a try.
Sit comfortably in a cross-legged position or in a chair with feet on the floor and back upright. Open your palms and place the backs of the hands on the legs. Gently curl the fingers as if your hands are empty bowls. Watch the movement of your breath for a minute or two while letting all thoughts pass by. Once your attention is established, begin to breathe in this way: As you inhale, draw the breath into the body and imagine it can reach a point in your body just behind your navel. As you exhale, release the breath into the space about 9 inches in front of you. Repeat this breathing practice for 5 minutes, gradually increasing to 20 minutes. The empty bowls remind us of the baggage we carry in the form of regrets of the past and fear/worry about the future. Release attachment to these sources of suffering and live confidently in the present moment.
- Published on
You can really feel the energy ramping up—shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, sending greetings and gifts. And that’s on top of everything else we have to do to keep our life running smoothly at the end of the year.
Very often illness or injury is a way for our body to say ENOUGH. If we get sick with a flu bug, sore back or worse, we have to slow down, take a few things off our calendar, and get more rest. If you’re not a fan of being under the weather, you’ll like to hear this:
The season of fall and early winter has many qualities such as “dry” and “cold” that we’ve discussed in earlier posts. There’s another quality that becomes quite evident right about now—"movement.” We see it in the wind, the blowing leaves, and the migration of the birds. Because the season already has this quality, we have to be very careful about overdoing in this season, otherwise our hyperactivity causes imbalance in our system. Results include colds, flus, bronchitis, pneumonia, nervousness, anxiety, fear, restlessness and insomnia. Sound familiar?
Ayurveda teaches that “opposites heal.” You might like to try these ideas to restore balance:
Take one thing (or more!) OFF your calendar each week. Look in the mirror and tell yourself “It’s okay to say ‘no.’”
Exercise LESS vigorously by walking rather than running, doing slow flow yoga instead of Sun Salutations, and supplementing your regular yoga practice with restorative and yin yoga.
SIT quietly for 5-10 minutes every day (twice a day if you can). Watch the birds eating at a bird feeder, sip a delicious cup of tea, gaze into an icon or flower, and express gratitude for your good health.
May you know peace, love and joy this holiday season!
Very often illness or injury is a way for our body to say ENOUGH. If we get sick with a flu bug, sore back or worse, we have to slow down, take a few things off our calendar, and get more rest. If you’re not a fan of being under the weather, you’ll like to hear this:
The season of fall and early winter has many qualities such as “dry” and “cold” that we’ve discussed in earlier posts. There’s another quality that becomes quite evident right about now—"movement.” We see it in the wind, the blowing leaves, and the migration of the birds. Because the season already has this quality, we have to be very careful about overdoing in this season, otherwise our hyperactivity causes imbalance in our system. Results include colds, flus, bronchitis, pneumonia, nervousness, anxiety, fear, restlessness and insomnia. Sound familiar?
Ayurveda teaches that “opposites heal.” You might like to try these ideas to restore balance:
Take one thing (or more!) OFF your calendar each week. Look in the mirror and tell yourself “It’s okay to say ‘no.’”
Exercise LESS vigorously by walking rather than running, doing slow flow yoga instead of Sun Salutations, and supplementing your regular yoga practice with restorative and yin yoga.
SIT quietly for 5-10 minutes every day (twice a day if you can). Watch the birds eating at a bird feeder, sip a delicious cup of tea, gaze into an icon or flower, and express gratitude for your good health.
May you know peace, love and joy this holiday season!
- Published on
It’s the season of gratitude, so I thought I would offer you some gratitude practices inspired by the Yoga tradition to bring your body and mind in sync with the Thanksgiving season.
Body gratitude practice: Unroll your yoga mat and stand to the side. Take a full breath in and out as you place your hands on your heart. What is one thing you are grateful for in this moment? It could be as big as a promotion at work or as small as hot water for a shower this morning. Just choose one thing.
With awareness, step on the yoga mat and stand in Mountain pose. Inhale to lift arms overhead, palms touch overhead, exhale to bring hands to the heart center. Repeat a few times. Inhale to lift arms overhead and arch the back, hold for three breaths, breathing into the chest. (If this is stressful for your lower back, place the hands on the lower back for support)
Bend forward from the hips and place the hands on the floor or a block. Hold for three breaths. Place hands on hips and stand up again.
Step the feet apart a little more than shoulder width. Turn the legs out so you can easily bend the knees and squat halfway down without stressing your knees. Inhale, lift the arms up as you straighten your legs; exhale and bring the arms down as you bend your knees. Practice several times.
Stand up and turn the heels out. Bend forward from the hips and place hands on the floor or a block. Bend the right knee, then the left, going back and forth several times. Finally, straighten both legs, bend forward in the center and let your mind quiet down. Hold for several breaths.
Bring the feet together. Have a seat on the floor.
Mind gratitude practice: Sit on a blanket or a cushion on the floor, or sit up tall on a chair with feet well-grounded on the floor. Place the backs of your hands on your legs and turn the palms up. Breathe naturally and easily through the nose. Remember a time when you were happy. Try to remember all the things that contributed to that happiness—where you were, who you were with, what you were doing, what you were wearing. Use all of your senses—seeing, hearing, touch, taste, smell—to make the remembrance as real as possible. (pause)
Let go of the scene you created and simply isolate the feeling of happiness. What does it feel like in your body? Does it have a color, a shape, a texture? What other feelings or thoughts accompany it? (pause)
Let that feeling take over your whole body, bathing your body in color, light or the sensation of being happy. (pause)
Link that feeling of happiness to a place in your body so that you can return to this feeling anytime you need to or want to. (pause)
After several minutes, bring your hands together in front of your heart center and bow your head to your own heart. Let gratitude arise in your heart. Namaste
Body gratitude practice: Unroll your yoga mat and stand to the side. Take a full breath in and out as you place your hands on your heart. What is one thing you are grateful for in this moment? It could be as big as a promotion at work or as small as hot water for a shower this morning. Just choose one thing.
With awareness, step on the yoga mat and stand in Mountain pose. Inhale to lift arms overhead, palms touch overhead, exhale to bring hands to the heart center. Repeat a few times. Inhale to lift arms overhead and arch the back, hold for three breaths, breathing into the chest. (If this is stressful for your lower back, place the hands on the lower back for support)
Bend forward from the hips and place the hands on the floor or a block. Hold for three breaths. Place hands on hips and stand up again.
Step the feet apart a little more than shoulder width. Turn the legs out so you can easily bend the knees and squat halfway down without stressing your knees. Inhale, lift the arms up as you straighten your legs; exhale and bring the arms down as you bend your knees. Practice several times.
Stand up and turn the heels out. Bend forward from the hips and place hands on the floor or a block. Bend the right knee, then the left, going back and forth several times. Finally, straighten both legs, bend forward in the center and let your mind quiet down. Hold for several breaths.
Bring the feet together. Have a seat on the floor.
Mind gratitude practice: Sit on a blanket or a cushion on the floor, or sit up tall on a chair with feet well-grounded on the floor. Place the backs of your hands on your legs and turn the palms up. Breathe naturally and easily through the nose. Remember a time when you were happy. Try to remember all the things that contributed to that happiness—where you were, who you were with, what you were doing, what you were wearing. Use all of your senses—seeing, hearing, touch, taste, smell—to make the remembrance as real as possible. (pause)
Let go of the scene you created and simply isolate the feeling of happiness. What does it feel like in your body? Does it have a color, a shape, a texture? What other feelings or thoughts accompany it? (pause)
Let that feeling take over your whole body, bathing your body in color, light or the sensation of being happy. (pause)
Link that feeling of happiness to a place in your body so that you can return to this feeling anytime you need to or want to. (pause)
After several minutes, bring your hands together in front of your heart center and bow your head to your own heart. Let gratitude arise in your heart. Namaste
- Published on
We just returned from our annual October retreat in Texas—three days teaching at Texas Yoga Retreat in Austin and three days of R&R in Dallas. What a delight to take some time to get away! How wonderful to relax, release and let go for a time.
You don’t have to go to Texas (or anywhere else!) in order to have a time of retreat. Retreat is not a place, but a state of mind. Here are some ideas to create an oasis of peace in your life today:
RELAX: When you relax you slow down, maybe by walking a little slower, paying attention more, or just sitting still to catch your breath. Where are you going in such a hurry anyway? I always chuckle at those drivers who are moving their vehicle at breakneck speeds, darting around the other cars only to land at the very same light I must stop at while driving the speed limit. Take your time and you’ll enjoy the journey so much more.
RELEASE: Notice those places in your body where you are carrying tension. Consciously release that tension through breathing, easy movement or gentle stretching. (Have you tried Yoga?!) You might let your inquiries go deeper to consider where this tension is coming from and what contributes to its continuing presence in your body. By being quiet and curious you can get to the source and release that tension for good.
LET GO: Yes, there are many bad things going on in the world today. Yes, we all have opinions about them. Yes, we’re going to hear all about it on the news and social media. But what benefit do these conversations, worries and accusations serve? Each of us is responsible for certain things in our own life, family, work and community. And there are specific actions we can take that will move things forward. By letting go of the things we have no control over—and that’s A LOT of things—we not only reduce stress but also free up energy for the good things we can do.
Relax, release, let go. I hope you’ll give it a try today.
You don’t have to go to Texas (or anywhere else!) in order to have a time of retreat. Retreat is not a place, but a state of mind. Here are some ideas to create an oasis of peace in your life today:
RELAX: When you relax you slow down, maybe by walking a little slower, paying attention more, or just sitting still to catch your breath. Where are you going in such a hurry anyway? I always chuckle at those drivers who are moving their vehicle at breakneck speeds, darting around the other cars only to land at the very same light I must stop at while driving the speed limit. Take your time and you’ll enjoy the journey so much more.
RELEASE: Notice those places in your body where you are carrying tension. Consciously release that tension through breathing, easy movement or gentle stretching. (Have you tried Yoga?!) You might let your inquiries go deeper to consider where this tension is coming from and what contributes to its continuing presence in your body. By being quiet and curious you can get to the source and release that tension for good.
LET GO: Yes, there are many bad things going on in the world today. Yes, we all have opinions about them. Yes, we’re going to hear all about it on the news and social media. But what benefit do these conversations, worries and accusations serve? Each of us is responsible for certain things in our own life, family, work and community. And there are specific actions we can take that will move things forward. By letting go of the things we have no control over—and that’s A LOT of things—we not only reduce stress but also free up energy for the good things we can do.
Relax, release, let go. I hope you’ll give it a try today.
- Published on
This week we celebrate the birthday of my dear teacher, Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. We know that he was “born” in 1926 and “died” in 2022. But did he, really?
One of the most powerful teachings he shares is about Continuation. Rooted deep in Buddhist philosophy he affirms that everything continues. Flowers grow out of the earth, are beautiful for a time, then fade and die. But they do not really die, he says. They are simply going into hiding for a time. As they decay they become compost to create rich soil so that more beautiful flowers can grow. In this way, the flower are not “born” and they do not “die”; they simply continue.
Another way he speaks of this is the relationship between the waves and the water. He explains that we tend to live our lives as if we are waves, always riding the highs and lows of life, always feeling pushed around by the flow of life. As a result, we suffer greatly from fear and uncertainty. What we forget is that we are also water—constant, steady, always present. Knowing this we experience Continuation.
As he neared the end of his life, he often spoke of Continuation. He explained there is no need for us to be sad when we cannot see him anymore. He may not be among us physically, but he will always be with us in our sitting meditation, walking meditation, and every moment of mindfulness. All things continue and so shall he.
What a blessing to have had this incredible teacher as part of our lives at this time on the planet. Let us on October 11 celebrate the Continuation Day of Thich Nhat Hanh. He writes: “All the work of meditation is aimed at awakening us in order to know one thing: that birth and death can never touch us in any way whatsoever.” What a beautiful thought!
One of the most powerful teachings he shares is about Continuation. Rooted deep in Buddhist philosophy he affirms that everything continues. Flowers grow out of the earth, are beautiful for a time, then fade and die. But they do not really die, he says. They are simply going into hiding for a time. As they decay they become compost to create rich soil so that more beautiful flowers can grow. In this way, the flower are not “born” and they do not “die”; they simply continue.
Another way he speaks of this is the relationship between the waves and the water. He explains that we tend to live our lives as if we are waves, always riding the highs and lows of life, always feeling pushed around by the flow of life. As a result, we suffer greatly from fear and uncertainty. What we forget is that we are also water—constant, steady, always present. Knowing this we experience Continuation.
As he neared the end of his life, he often spoke of Continuation. He explained there is no need for us to be sad when we cannot see him anymore. He may not be among us physically, but he will always be with us in our sitting meditation, walking meditation, and every moment of mindfulness. All things continue and so shall he.
What a blessing to have had this incredible teacher as part of our lives at this time on the planet. Let us on October 11 celebrate the Continuation Day of Thich Nhat Hanh. He writes: “All the work of meditation is aimed at awakening us in order to know one thing: that birth and death can never touch us in any way whatsoever.” What a beautiful thought!
- Published on
Ahh, seasonal allergies! We know they’re coming every year but they still hit us like a ton of bricks. Because they tend to be strongest in the spring and the fall, it’s a good idea to have our self-care measures in place so we don’t have to resort to medication like antihistamines. Catch Part 1 of this series to learn about the dangers of anticholinergics and simple things you can do to co-exist with your local environment.
In this post I’m sharing two more ways to support your body during allergy season. The first is for your head, and the second is more systemic.
Facial massage is incredibly helpful in easing pressure in the sinuses. I like to make an essential oil blend: in 1oz of carrier oil (sesame, coconut, jojoba) put no more than 7 drops of essential oil. Please, please, please do not put essential oils on your skin directly from the bottle. Always dilute them in a carrier oil. My favorite essential oils are a combination of mint—peppermint, eucalyptus, spearmint—and citrus—neroli, bergamot, grapefruit, orange, lemon.
Put a few drops of the carrier oil/essential oil combination into your hands and rub them together. Massage along the cheek bones and into the temples. Use your index fingers to make gentle circles around the eye sockets. Always be careful that you don’t get oil in your eyes. Also use your index finger to press gently on the inner part of the eye closer to the nose bone than the eye itself. Hold for 30-60 seconds and you’ll usually feel some drainage of the sinuses.
Slide your index and middle fingers downward several times with gentle pressure along the front of the ears and directly behind the ears. Also massage down the sides of the neck. All of these movements encourage the downward flow of mucous.
Herbs are another natural way to counteract plant allergies. The only caution here is that, if you know you have an allergy to specific plants, it’s best to do a little research on the herb before taking it. If it is in the same family as the plant you’re allergic to, it can make you feel worse not better.
By far the best herb I’ve ever taken for allergies is Butterbur. Capsules are easy to come by in the health food store. It has the advantage of working quite quickly, often within 24 hours.
Stinging nettles (or just “nettles”) has long been used for allergy relief. The dried plant can be taken in capsules or it can be even more effective if you grow the plant yourself and make tea from the leaves.
Rosemary is an herb you probably have in your pantry or growing in your yard. It is also a natural antihistamine. Make a tea from dried rosemary, supplement with capsules, use rosemary tincture, or mix some rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil at a stronger dilution of 14 drops per 1 oz of carrier oil and massage it on the bottoms of your feet, belly and the back of the neck.
Garlic is both antihistamine and anti-viral so it will help both seasonal allergies and colds. You can take garlic supplements if you like, or just add more raw and cooked garlic to your diet. Raw garlic opens your nasal passages so you can breathe better.
And breathing easier is what we all seek to do during allergy season.
In this post I’m sharing two more ways to support your body during allergy season. The first is for your head, and the second is more systemic.
Facial massage is incredibly helpful in easing pressure in the sinuses. I like to make an essential oil blend: in 1oz of carrier oil (sesame, coconut, jojoba) put no more than 7 drops of essential oil. Please, please, please do not put essential oils on your skin directly from the bottle. Always dilute them in a carrier oil. My favorite essential oils are a combination of mint—peppermint, eucalyptus, spearmint—and citrus—neroli, bergamot, grapefruit, orange, lemon.
Put a few drops of the carrier oil/essential oil combination into your hands and rub them together. Massage along the cheek bones and into the temples. Use your index fingers to make gentle circles around the eye sockets. Always be careful that you don’t get oil in your eyes. Also use your index finger to press gently on the inner part of the eye closer to the nose bone than the eye itself. Hold for 30-60 seconds and you’ll usually feel some drainage of the sinuses.
Slide your index and middle fingers downward several times with gentle pressure along the front of the ears and directly behind the ears. Also massage down the sides of the neck. All of these movements encourage the downward flow of mucous.
Herbs are another natural way to counteract plant allergies. The only caution here is that, if you know you have an allergy to specific plants, it’s best to do a little research on the herb before taking it. If it is in the same family as the plant you’re allergic to, it can make you feel worse not better.
By far the best herb I’ve ever taken for allergies is Butterbur. Capsules are easy to come by in the health food store. It has the advantage of working quite quickly, often within 24 hours.
Stinging nettles (or just “nettles”) has long been used for allergy relief. The dried plant can be taken in capsules or it can be even more effective if you grow the plant yourself and make tea from the leaves.
Rosemary is an herb you probably have in your pantry or growing in your yard. It is also a natural antihistamine. Make a tea from dried rosemary, supplement with capsules, use rosemary tincture, or mix some rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil at a stronger dilution of 14 drops per 1 oz of carrier oil and massage it on the bottoms of your feet, belly and the back of the neck.
Garlic is both antihistamine and anti-viral so it will help both seasonal allergies and colds. You can take garlic supplements if you like, or just add more raw and cooked garlic to your diet. Raw garlic opens your nasal passages so you can breathe better.
And breathing easier is what we all seek to do during allergy season.
- Published on
I just learned of a scary new study on antihistamines in the Journal of American Medicine demonstrating a distinct increase in dementia in those who regularly use anticholinergic medicine. Yikes! Since antihistamines are a common medicine taken to combat spring and fall allergies, this is information we need to heed.
Ayurveda is the ancient medical system of India and, fortunately, it relies on natural remedies to heal body and mind. Ayurveda’s take on seasonal allergies is that they are a result of ongoing dryness in the body. This may explain why the antihistamines are so detrimental—they increase dryness in the body. Ayurveda says that when the body is dry, it produces mucus as a way of fighting off an allergen, whether it be ragweed, pollen or grass clippings. While an anticholinergic might provide symptomatic relief, it does not tackle the main cause of the sickness which is a weakened immune system due to dryness.
Ayurveda offers many suggestions for coping with seasonal allergies. We’ll look at a few in this post and offer a few more in the next post.
Eat local food. The most obvious is to eat food that is in season and grown in your local community. Why? Because local food has natural bacteria from the local microbiome which helps your internal microbiome develop a powerful immune response to allergens. Perhaps you’ve heard of the benefits of eating local honey and honeycomb. Visit your farmers’ market or grow your own vegetables.
Use water and oil to counteract dryness. One way to do that is to drink one half of your body weight in ounces every day. If you weigh 150 lbs., drink 75 oz. Favor fresh water with lemon or lime, herbal teas and fruit juices.
Use a neti pot each day to rinse your sinuses with saline solution. This is very effective in clearing out the allergens before they can cause a problem. There are excellent videos online to walk you through the process.
Put a drop or two of sesame or coconut oil in your nostrils every day. Sniff it in and massage the outside of the nostrils.
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on steamed veggies and/or mix EVOO with balsamic vinegar to make a salad dressing.
Give these a try so you can feel better soon! Check back for more suggestions in the next post.
Ayurveda is the ancient medical system of India and, fortunately, it relies on natural remedies to heal body and mind. Ayurveda’s take on seasonal allergies is that they are a result of ongoing dryness in the body. This may explain why the antihistamines are so detrimental—they increase dryness in the body. Ayurveda says that when the body is dry, it produces mucus as a way of fighting off an allergen, whether it be ragweed, pollen or grass clippings. While an anticholinergic might provide symptomatic relief, it does not tackle the main cause of the sickness which is a weakened immune system due to dryness.
Ayurveda offers many suggestions for coping with seasonal allergies. We’ll look at a few in this post and offer a few more in the next post.
Eat local food. The most obvious is to eat food that is in season and grown in your local community. Why? Because local food has natural bacteria from the local microbiome which helps your internal microbiome develop a powerful immune response to allergens. Perhaps you’ve heard of the benefits of eating local honey and honeycomb. Visit your farmers’ market or grow your own vegetables.
Use water and oil to counteract dryness. One way to do that is to drink one half of your body weight in ounces every day. If you weigh 150 lbs., drink 75 oz. Favor fresh water with lemon or lime, herbal teas and fruit juices.
Use a neti pot each day to rinse your sinuses with saline solution. This is very effective in clearing out the allergens before they can cause a problem. There are excellent videos online to walk you through the process.
Put a drop or two of sesame or coconut oil in your nostrils every day. Sniff it in and massage the outside of the nostrils.
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on steamed veggies and/or mix EVOO with balsamic vinegar to make a salad dressing.
Give these a try so you can feel better soon! Check back for more suggestions in the next post.