Vulnerability and the Tender Heart
Several years ago some friends arranged for the Gyuto Tantric Choir, the Tibetan monks famous for their deep multivocal chanting, to perform in San Quentin...
Compassion
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The Near Enemies of Awakening
Compassion vs. Pity and Despair The near enemy of compassion is pity. Instead of feeling the openness of compassion, pity says, “Oh, that poor person....
The Four Radiant Abodes
The most treasured description of optimal mental health is the Four Radiant Abodes. These four radiant abodes are: loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity or peace....
Meditation: Becoming Simple and Transparent
As you reflect on your spiritual life you can ask yourself: What do you know in your heart about the truth of life? Do you...
The Compassionate Replacement of Painful Thoughts
If you are a person who has regular, repeated destructive thoughts, thoughts of self-judgment, criticism, shame, or unworthiness, work with this training for a week...
Awakening the Buddha of Wisdom in Difficulties
“Who is your enemy? Mind is your enemy. Who is your friend? Mind is your friend.” ~Buddha I have on my refrigerator a picture of...
The Fix interviews Jack
An Interview with Jack featured in TheFix.com. Have you worked with people struggling with substance and behavioral addictions? Over the years, many people struggling with...
Tending the Garden
When we are willing to rest with trust on this earth, the great force of life will begin to move through us. I saw this...
Cultivating Grace and Transforming Suffering
How do we transform suffering into grace? How do we cultivate a process that allows grace to fill our lives? How do we turn anger...
Freedom Here and Now
The radiant abodes express the fruit of mental development. When they are in balance, loving-kindness, compassion, and joy rest in an unshakable equanimity. This peace...
The Heart’s Intention
Becoming aware of intention is the key to awakening in moment-to-moment practice. In each situation that calls for our engagement, some inner intention will precede...
Cultivating Compassion
There are many levels on which we can strengthen and awaken compassion in our lives. We can practice it in silence as we sit. When...