Okay, I’m kidding about the title. But it’s worth remembering that if we can only meditate when it’s quiet or have everything just so, we may not meditate at all. The true value of meditation comes from regular practice, regardless of conditions. Learning how to meditate anywhere also helps us be more at ease in stressful situations. Sure, it’s wonderful to sit in a tranquil setting, especially with a sangha of like-minded practitioners, or in a room set up just for that purpose, but let’s not keep this valuable practice in a gilded cage for special occasions. Let it be a vital technique for c ..read more

Everything in life is dependent on something else. As much as we might try, we will not find anything that stands separate, alone, and unconditioned. If this arises, then that arises. This fundamental insight of Buddhism is called Dependent Origination. There is a formal teaching and, of course, a list one could memorize. But the Buddha experienced the nature of dependent origination in his meditation and we can too. But even before we sit to meditate, we can see dependent origination at play: Before meditating there is the intention to meditate. If the intention is wise, the effort will be wi ..read more

We often think that if only circumstances were different, we could relax and find peace. Whether it’s our body, relationships, work, or the world, we believe everything has to be just so before we can be happy. But here’s a reminder from the ancient Buddhist texts that helps us see through the lie we keep telling ourselves: “A seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.” Vagga III of the Samyutta Nikaya of the Pali Canon  Wait. Bait? What bait? Just as a fish would live a happier life if it didn’t fall for the lure of the fisherperson’s bait, so too can we be happier if we can see the ..read more

Some of my Sangha Sisters like to choose a word to sit with for the coming year, and one is considering the word ‘courage’. I encourage that word! It comes from the Latin word cor, which means heart. And at its heart, it speaks to how we are in relationship to fear. Since many of us are experiencing a lot of fear and anxiety, this exploration might be valuable. When we look at the Ten Paramis of Theravada Buddhism, there’s no one quality that directly translates to courage, but all of them contribute to it or benefit from it: Lovingkindness, obviously, since it comes from the radiant heart. E ..read more

Invitation to Insight, Meditative Poems by Stephanie Noble I’m delighted to announce that my new book is now available! A collection of poems written from insights on silent meditation retreats and time in nature, it expresses the dharma ever-present in our daily lives. Here’s what insight meditation teacher and gifted author, Anne Cushman, says: “Stephanie Noble’s poems sing, whisper, and wink from the heart of a meditator’s journey. With vivid imagery, candor, and wisdom, Invitation to Insight honors both the quirky humanity and the glimmering mystery of the dharma path.” Anne Cus ..read more

The Buddha is quoted as saying, Luminous is this mind brightly shining, but it is obscured by attachments. [AN 1.49-51] What obscures the luminous mind are what the Buddha called the three poisons of greed, aversion, and delusion. These are poisons that we willingly swallow, usually not even realizing we are actively obscuring the natural luminous mind that is ours by nature. Fortunately, we have the innate capacity to cultivate the antidotes to these poisons and clarify the mind. Through our practice of meditation and quiet contemplation, we cultivate a sense of spaciousness. We release the t ..read more

My husband, for decades, has done a daily Tai Chi practice that involves jump kicks. When those jump kicks became too challenging for his aging body, he stopped doing his morning routine, disappointed. But then he realized he could modify that problem movement to accommodate his body’s current needs. That’s one of many examples of how we have a choice in our lives, and we have the power to adapt and assess what minor or major adjustments we can make to still benefit from the experience. But often, we slip into a funk instead of investigating what is possible. We complain about what is missing ..read more

Happy Earth Day! A time for celebration, acknowledgment, and appreciation for all those who bring loving awareness to all their choices, knowing everything is interconnected and our actions matter. And a time to reflect on our own choices and challenge ourselves to be more conscious. Here’s a heartbreaking piece of information. May it motivate us rather than depress us: A survey of young people found that 45% of them, and a much higher percentage in the global south, are so anxious about the climate crisis’s effect that it affects their ability to function. They feel that “the world is doomed ..read more

New Year has cultural significance: a fresh start or the anticipation of something different. We can take advantage of this cultural reset button to make some needed changes in our lives. But let’s not forget that we can reset our wise intention and wise effort in every moment of our lives. We are always in a pivotal moment! If it doesn’t feel that way, it’s because we are caught up in what the Buddha called the Eight Worldly Winds. We feel tossed about by conditions we have no control over, like a ribbon in the wind. The ribbon flips from one side to the other just as our moods can flip from ..read more

When you were a child, didn’t you sometimes seek out darkness? Maybe you made a cozy cave under the covers for you and a sibling or friend to share your deepest thoughts.  Maybe you loved playing hide and seek, tucked away behind a curtain or in a closet. Maybe you created a fort under a table. Maybe you enjoyed standing under the night sky with your eyes delighting in the depth of velvety darkness. And maybe you lived in an area with fireflies to chase about. How magical! Maybe sometimes you placed your palms over your eyes to recreate that dark, safe and warm. At the same time, maybe at ..read more