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Awake in the World

“I know the secret of silence,” Indian saint, Mahatma Gandhi wrote. In the silence the mind comes to rest and all of the pieces come home like bees to the hive. The senses gather themselves together and the fragments of our self return home to become whole. Silent practices or vows have long been staples…

“Life is a joy between two pains.” – Sai Baba When times are tough, it seems they will last an eternity. We get so caught up in the worry and anxiety that it’s hard to see beyond to the better times up ahead. But those who have an anchor in spiritual life find it easier…

Trees. We rarely consider them, but without them we’d breathe at lot less easy! They give and give, even when we harm them. They give us oxygen, fruits and nuts. They provide shade to everyone. They open their limbs to birds, frogs and lizards. They never say, “I will give my shade only to those…

In the South of France the summer solstice is a time of celebration. In Antibes, a bonfire is lit to pay tribute to the summer sun. Crowds circle around it and brave people jump the fire. This festival harks back to ancient festivals that expressed gratitude for the light that grows crops, brings warmth and…

“Do your duty until it becomes your joy.” My favorite story about duty or dharma in Sanskrit (which literally means “right action”) takes place on a battle field. Arjuna, a brave young man has been trained as a warrior. But on this day of one of the greatest battles the world has ever seen, his…

The sacred space at Assisi, Italy played a key role in the inspiration for the polio vaccine. Jonas Salk was at St. Francis’ birthplace when he conceived of the vaccine that has saved millions of lives. He attributed his inspiration in large part to the power of Assisi and its architecture. Salk felt so certain…

In France it’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “Keep that to explore in your jardin secret.” The secret garden is an ancient European symbol that grew out of the chaotic and troubled times of the Middle Ages. Sometimes called the Dark Ages,  it was a time of  wars, famine, drought and plague. People felt…

Summer is a great time to fast. It feeds the soul and cleanses the body. This practice which has been common throughout cultures down through the ages has fallen out of use. But it’s being rediscovered for health benefits, as a way to detox, and as a means to explore one’s relationship to food and…

“It is amazing that something so beautiful will be destroyed. But then again, that is the story of our lives.” — Woman who watched the creation of a sand mandala Tibetan Buddhist monks spend days creating exquisite sand mandalas only to destroy them. They draw out elaborate geometric patterns on a platform then tap out…

Zen Buddhist author, Natalie Goldberg teaches a form of walking meditation in her writing workshops. She instructs people to coordinate each step with a breath as a way to become more aware and present. The pace of walking slows significantly and becomes a moving meditation. Meditation at its best and highest is conscious living in…
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