Buddhist roshi Joan Halifax works with people at the last stage of life (in hospice and on death row). She shares what she's learned about compassion in the face of death and dying, and a deep insight into the nature of empathy. These insights touch all of us regardless of stage of life or the... Continue Reading →
What exactly is compassion? Compassion is the recognition of another's suffering and a desire to alleviate that suffering. Often brushed off as a hippy dippy religious term irrelevant in modern society, rigorous empirical data supports the view of all major world religions: compassion is good....
Compassion is a kind of fire ... it disturbs, it surprises, it ignites, it burns, it sears, and it warms. Compassion incinerates denial; it especially warms and melts cold hearts, cold structures, frozen minds, and self-satisfied lifestyles. Those who are touched by compassion have their lives turned upside down. That is not necessarily a bad... Continue Reading →
I think the idea that self-compassion trumps self-esteem is an excellent point that needs to be considered. Here she goes into depth about this idea.
Much Madness is Divinest Sense by Emily Dickinson Much Madness is divinest Sense — To a discerning Eye — Much Sense — the starkest Madness — ’Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail — Assent — and you are sane — Demur — you’re straightway dangerous — And handled with a Chain —... Continue Reading →
We spend so much of our time doing things automatically that it is important to assess whether our habits bring us real joy. Whenever we think that how we spend a given day or even a given hour is unimportant, and whenever we think we need to rush through what we’re doing so that later... Continue Reading →
When those we’re closest to see through our illusions and point out our self-centered mistakes, we quickly get defensive, and if they don’t stop we may become quite angry or enraged. If we look at those arguments in which tempers flare and voices are raised, we’ll find that most are sparked by our feeling that... Continue Reading →
I'm reading a book by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron which is really wonderful. I don't think she's written anything that isn't wonderful. The book I'm currently reading is called, The Places that Scare You. Here is a collection of quotes from her: • The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable... Continue Reading →
Still working on waking up, so I share another article of interest again today. This deals with meditation and brain neuroplasticity, compassion and love and Tibetan monks as I've featured some before. Enjoy. Can love change your mind? New project explores neuroscience of 'positive qualities' From Psychorg.com: What is happening in the minds of people... Continue Reading →
I may not be depressed currently, but I sure as heck deal with anger. Why has my life turned out this way? Why am I crippled as a result of taking drugs? Why are there all the injustices in the world? Not just the psychiatric abuses. I care about all human and civil rights issues,... Continue Reading →
