Freedom to Make Mistakes Gandhi said, “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Step out. Fly. Even if you get burned, you can fall back to earth and start again. It is never too late to...
Compassion for Imperfection What if you could love yourself fully, including your imperfections? What if you could love others in the same way? You might fear that by loving your anger or laziness, your addictions or your anxiety, that you will never change for the...
Did I Love Well? Even the most exalted states and the most exceptional spiritual accomplishments are unimportant if we cannot be happy in the most basic and ordinary ways, if we cannot touch one another and the life we have been given with our hearts. In...
The Zen of an Aching Heart Like a sandcastle, all is temporary. Build it, tend it, enjoy it. And when the time comes, let it go. When our heart breaks—in love, in friendship, in partnership—it is always a very difficult experience. Modern neuroscience has even...
Gratitude and Wonder If we cannot be happy in spite of our difficulties, what good is our spiritual practice? —Maha Ghosananda Gratitude is a gracious acknowledgment of all that sustains us, a bow to our blessings, great and small. Buddhist monks begin each day...
Letting Go In the stress and complexity of our lives, we may forget our deepest intentions. But when people come to the end of their life and look back, the questions that they most often ask are not usually, “How much is in my bank account?” or “How many books did I...
