Inspired for a Reason

This is an amazingly creative and touching post on the New York Times blog about the city, volunteering and positive vibes.  Delightful.

And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman

(Thanks, Judith.)

Jane Goodall: Reason for Hope

Some inspiring words from Jane Goodall.  As a friend who passed this on to me said, “This will take an hour of your time to watch – a lot, I realize – but … oh!  How worth it!  It found my heart and brought me to tears.”

(Thank you, Elizabeth.)

Emptiness … and Form

This is mind-blowing.  Scientists pointed the Hubble telescope at ‘nothing’ and ….found something amazing.  My English major brain has trouble taking in this data.

This reminds me of Sri Nisargadata’s famous statement:

Wisdom tells me I am nothing.

Compassion tells me I am everything.

Between these two my life flows.

(Thanks, Mark.)

It’s Been a Year

Wow.  A one year old blog.  I started this last August as a way to get some creative juices flowing.  It’s been fun!   I’ve tried to post something at least once a week whether it be a “Happy for No Reason video,” a thought sparked from a dharma talk, some photos I’d recently taken or a reference I thought might be interesting.

I’ve been delighted at the ‘following’ that’s developed and am tickled when someone tells me how much they enjoy it.

Feel free to send along a resource you think others might enjoy, as well as any suggestions and / or feedback.

Thanks for your attention!

Moments

This piece from Radio Lab is an exploration of a collection of moments.  When I feel sadness or regret I’ve come to notice that it is often when I recognize how much of my life I wasn’t there for – all the moments I missed because I was someone on my way somewhere else.

Don’t Go!

Despite my dog’s attempt to not let me leave without him, I’m heading up to Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health to lead two programs.  The first is a three day program with my friends Shobhan and Danna Faulds called the Energy Intensive:  Yoga, Meditation and Breathwork.

The second program is called The Still Small Voice Within:  Meditation, Focusing and Intuition Training.  This four-day intensive is all about cultivating awareness through vipassana, developing a more refined sense of the ‘here and now’ in the body through Focusing and taking time to reflect on the questions we carry inside and how we can open to greater wisdom and compassion.

Nothing passive aggressive about this dog...

Enough is Enough

A few years ago I directed a conference at Kripalu Center called “Change Yourself, Change the World,” which featured Arun Gandhi, Julia Butterfly Hill and Wayne Muller.  Wayne, who is the Founder of Bread for the Journey, a micro-lending non-profit, is also author of Sabbath: Restoring the Rythmn of Rest, on the topic of taking time for self care.  Here’s a clip from him speaking on “Enough is Enough.”

Thanks, Judi.

Happy to Be Alive

I’ve had a few near death experiences, the most dramatic being from going into anaphylactic shock from bee stings.  This article from the New York Times speaks of the joy that can emerge when we realize how easily our life can end.  I found the comments on the article as entertaining and touching as the article itself.

Thanks, Ellen!

Today is Under Construction

Thank you, Kyra.

Art for Art’s Sake

Western-style Sand Painting: