“If we attach importance to someone we will feel greater concern for the person and, as a result, we will also show greater interest in his or her well being.” -Thupten Jinpa Caring about other people makes us feel connected. This is all the more true if we believe other people are important. And it’s still even more true if we believe other people are *gasp* as important as we are. I’m not telling you anything that you don’t know.... Read more
If we can learn to embody compassion in our lives, it will lead to more happiness for us. Living a life dedicated to compassion brings us joy. It seems counter-intuitive at first. We may think that the most selfish people are the happiest. They are, after all, the ones who are worried about fulfilling their own needs and desires, so we could come to a conclusion that they would be happier. There are really two kinds of happiness I want... Read more
“We cultivate a way of being in this world where no one needs to earn or be deserving of our care and no one is deprived or exiled from the boundless kindness possible for each of us.” -Christina Feldman Metta is a word that usually gets translated as “loving kindness.” It’s that feeling where you care about other people and you want good things to happen to them. Sometimes it’s translated as ‘loving friendliness.” Sometimes it’s left as simply “kindness.”... Read more
In the book ‘A Fearless Heart,’ Thupten Jinpa (PhD and former monk) describes a list of skills that help us to cultivate compassion. I think this is a good list, so I thought I would share it with you. He calls these skills “settling the mind.” You see, we have to calm down and see things clearly in order to learn how to manifest the compassion that is part of our basic nature as human beings. If we don’t see... Read more
The Rime Center has existed in Kansas City for nearly 30 years. It was founded by Lama Chuck and Chaplain Mary Stanford in 1993. Lama Chuck passed away last year. It’s led by Lama Matthew Palden Gocha and Gabi Otto now. Rime means “nonsectarian” It means all branches of Buddhism are honored and respected here. This means there’s a kind of spiritual openness at the Rime Center that isn’t necessarily present in all spiritual communities. It’s hard to believe it’s... Read more
Way back when I was 20 years old I started practicing meditation for myself. I was interested in my own well being. I needed Buddhism. I needed something because I was really struggling. Many people really struggle when they’re young, when they come to terms with adulthood not being what they expected or wished for. What do I mean when I say I started for myself? I needed some calm in my life. I needed to learn how to have... Read more
I’m going to share with you a meditation prayer that we recite at the Rime Center. I started reciting it in all my meditations at home as well. It goes like this: “May all beings be endowed with happiness; May all beings be free from suffering; May all beings never be separated from happiness; And may all beings abide in equanimity, Undisturbed by the eight worldly concerns.” This is how we set our intention to cultivate what is called “the... Read more
“It takes courage to open our hearts to others and to expose our vulnerability.” -Thupten Jinpa, PhD In 2016 I received teachings from Lama Lena on a retreat at the Rime Center. At that time she would come visit us in Kansas City every year and give teachings, so I’ve been on retreats with her a few times. At that event she taught us something called “The Practice That Takes the Open Heart as the Path to Awakening.” At... Read more
Self Compassion is a concept I had trouble understanding at first. I heard we need to cultivate self compassion and I thought to myself “I am selfish. I have no trouble making sure I go after the things I want. How could I be struggling with self-compassion. How is this an issue for anyone?” You may have felt this way too. But the truth is I tell myself negative stories and I think we all do. I put together a... Read more
I don’t always try to be a journalist, but apparently I’m trying to be one today. There was not a big announcement, as there usually is for things like this. But in the world of modern American Buddhism this could be seen as a big event. Brad Warner has been a famous Buddhist teacher for nearly 20 years. His books have inspired many people who thought Buddhism wouldn’t be for them. I wanted to be a Zen Buddhist for many... Read more
Bodhisattva Road
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