In troubled times we have to go back to the basics, the heart of our practice, the power of mindfulness. Mindfulness is big enough to hold it all.

Who we are is mindful loving awareness!

The meditation instructions given by Buddha begin with a powerful invitation:

There is wonderful way for living beings to overcome grief and sorrow, to end pain and anxiety, to travel the path of compassion and understanding, to realize liberation. This way is the establishment of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a balanced, kind, compassionate attention amidst it all. With mindfulness we can see clearly, free ourselves from hate and fear, release confusion and reactivity, and respond wisely.

The Buddha goes on: mindfulness is to be established in four ways. We must establish mindfulness of the body, mindfulness of the feelings, mindfulness of the mind, and mindfulness of the Dharma—the laws and relations that govern life. He continues, “Mindfulness leads to healing and the end of sorrow and grief. Mindfulness brings liberation.”

Mindfulness is the means by which we can bring our full caring presence to the world. With balance and understanding we can experience gain and loss, pleasure and pain, war and peace, the joys and sorrows that make up human life.

The open and compassionate attention of mindfulness liberates us from reacting to and being caught by all things in the world. Instead, we offer the world our peaceful heart. We respond with care and courage, and in doing so we embody the presence and liberation we wish for all.

Sometimes this is called mindfulness. Sometimes it is called love.