In recent years, Chenrezig—the Tibetan name for the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion—has become an important part of my spiritual practice. I have a strong affinity for sound, and much of my learning about Chenrezig has been in the form of sound and meaning: what “Chenrezig” itself means and how it relates to Avalokiteshvara’s other names, what the Sanskrit and Tibetan versions of the word compassion actually mean, and the meaning of the famous Chenrezig mantra OM MANI PADME HUM. In this article, I want to share both what I’ve learned about Chenrezig himself, as we ..read more

Meditation and mindfulness practices are as varied and unique as the people who utilize them. Interestingly, interviewee’s stated goals and outcomes of their practices were strikingly similar to one another regardless of differences in tradition or approach: to be more centered, calm, compassionate, gentle, and present–and less reactive, angry, frustrated, distracted, and confused.  Quite often, what our children need most is for us, as parents, to be positive, open, and present. There is a saying in the world of Chinese medicine, “To benefit the child, nourish the mother.” This is a poet ..read more

Much of the suffering in our lives is rooted in fear. Fortunately, Buddhism and meditation offer excellent supports for working with fear—and with anxiety, the worry about uncertain threats that many of us carry in contemporary life. Fear is pervasive, especially in this world of polarization, aggression, and lack of available resources. Fear is also inevitable. It is a natural part of being a human. How we relate to the feelings that accompany fear will determine how distressed we are when it arises. Fear is a natural part of being human. How we relate to fear determines how distressed we ar ..read more

Meditation can be a welcomed tool for coping with grief, which is one of the more difficult human experiences. Meditation practice in general can help us stay present with challenging emotions, and meditation specifically tailored for grief can help us endure the pain associated with it without avoiding it, which can often lead to suffering. Let’s take a closer look at grief, what it is, and how meditation can help.  Meditation for Grief: What is Grief? Grief is our system’s response to loss. Grief is our system’s response to loss. Grief can be personal, as with the loss of a loved one ..read more

The immediate image that many people may have of Buddhism is of monks in robes: people living in a rarified environment, far away from the busyness and chaos of our everyday lives. Yet in the Dhammapada, a collection of sayings from the Buddha, he says that every action is preceded by a thought. In this sense, Buddhism or a Buddhist perspective is in every moment of our everyday life. The essence of Buddhism is the practice of meditation, mindfulness/awareness: to watch one’s mind and notice what arises, without having to act on it. The essence of Buddhism is the practice of meditation, mind ..read more

A Buddhist home shrine can be a refuge, a gentle invitation to return to the moment, and a reminder of our higher principles. In this article, I will share my family’s process of creating a Buddhist home shrine, discuss what we learned, and share the resources I gathered to help us along in our process. Making a Buddhist Home Shrine for the First Time As is so often the case when studying aspects of Buddhist practice, the information and advice I gathered as my family began this process was varied and flexible. Home altars range from simple, even sparse, to elaborate and ornate. I will highlig ..read more

If you are looking to change a habit, mindfulness can be key a strategy. Habits can be hard to break, but the good news is, because they are learned, they can be unlearned. Let’s start at the beginning and take a look at what habits are and how they develop. Mindfulness for Bad Habits: What are Habits? Habits are simply learned behaviors that show up on a regular basis and are often automatic, being performed without conscious thought. As humans, we are designed to operate efficiently, so if we can free up our brain space by making something happen automatically, we do. This is partly why habi ..read more

If you are looking to change a habit, mindfulness can be key a strategy. Habits can be hard to break, but the good news is, because they are learned, they can be unlearned. Let’s start at the beginning and take a look at what habits are and how they develop. Mindfulness for Bad Habits: What are Habits? Habits are simply learned behaviors that show up on a regular basis and are often automatic, being performed without conscious thought. As humans, we are designed to operate efficiently, so if we can free up our brain space by making something happen automatically, we do. This is partly why habi ..read more

In this guide to mindfulness meditation for beginners, we will introduce you to meditation, and we’ll share meditation tips for beginners to help you get started on your meditation journey. Mindfulness meditation is a simple practice that, done regularly, is also life-changing. Through meditation, we can discover and make friends with our own minds. Let’s get started! Meditation for Beginners: What Meditation Is Meditation is a practice that works with our minds, to bring out their natural qualities: at rest, open, and alert. When we meditate regularly, these qualities emerge. Of the many typ ..read more

Do you want to know how to start meditating? If you’d like to start a daily meditation practice, you’re in the right place! Whether you wish to meditate for help with stress and anxiety, greater emotional attunement and resilience, stronger relationships, or spiritual growth and wisdom, you’ll see these benefits most when you meditate regularly—ideally at least once each day. Regular meditation practice brings lots of benefits, from stress relief to better relationships to spiritual growth. The key point of how to start meditating daily is that meditation become a natural and enjoyable part ..read more