Have you ever heard the Buddhist story of The Second Arrow? It’s a powerful metaphor. It teaches us a lot about how we deal with pain and suffering in our lives.
The story goes like this: Imagine you’re out walking in the forest, and suddenly, you get struck by an arrow. Ouch! That first arrow represents the inevitable pain and difficulties we all face in life – physical pain, emotional heartbreak, loss, struggle and so on. […]
inner compass, wisdom
Sharing Someone Else’s Wound
My son was on a trip, a semester-long program in Israel, and then they traveled to Poland for 10-days.
On this program, he made a good friend, a new friend, named Mason.
When they got to Poland, they were touring some of the centers of Jewish life before the war. They were also going to the camps.
On the third or fourth day of the time in Poland, Mason disappeared for the day with one of the counselors on the program. […]
How to Respond to the Heartbreaking News
So much happens around us every day that tugs at our heartstrings and evokes strong emotions.
We see heartbreaking stories of suffering, injustice and tragedy in the news, on social media and in our communities. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of pain out there.
Yet we must find a way to keep our emotional balance. Being overwhelmed with outrage and sorrow helps no one, least of all those who are suffering. […]
A Medicine Woman’s Prayer
A Medicine Woman’s Prayer
I will not rescue you
for you are not powerless.
I will not fix you
for you are not broken
I will not heal you
for I see you in your wholeness.
I will walk with you
through your darkness
as you remember
your light.
We are all born with an inner light, a sense of wholeness and goodness within. Yet, life can cast shadows that dim our light and make us feel broken. […]
Loving Yourself
…And if I asked you to name all of the things that you love, how long would it take to name yourself?
The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. Loving yourself truly and deeply is the key to a happy and fulfilling life. If you lack self-love, you will see it affecting every aspect of your being, every relationship, even your professional life.
First and foremost, self-love leads to self-acceptance. […]
When our Emotional World is Set on Fire
Triggers set our emotional world on fire
The stories we weave in our mind become so vivid and rich, even colorful and persuasive sometimes, that we believe our own creative narratives, and we drive ourselves crazy with worry, anxiety, or anger.
In The Path is Everywhere: Uncovering the jewels hidden within you, Matt Licata, PhD, gives an accurate description of what we experience when we are triggered: our emotional world is set on fire. […]
In a Dark Place or Just Been Planted?
Sometimes when you are in a dark place you may feel you have been buried, when in fact you have been planted.
This quote by Christine Caine holds a profound truth about hardship and struggle. When we are going through difficult times, it can feel like we are trapped in darkness with no hope or escape. The quote suggests that what feels like being buried in darkness may actually be a planting – […]
This is my secret ~ J Krishnamurti
This is a story about J. Krishnamurti, the great Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher. For over 50 years he travelled all over the world, speaking, teaching trying to explain in words concepts and ideas that are beyond words. I read a story about him once surprising his audience by saying he was going to reveal his secret “Do you want to know my secret?”
So, as you can imagine, everyone was listening attentively. Everyone wanted to hear the secret of his wisdom. […]
The Tigers & The Strawberry
Someone I know brought up his fear of old age and death. It made me think of a Zen Parable I had read a long time ago. I always carry it close to my heart and it has been a source of inspiration for me.
Have you ever heard about the Zen Parables? They are called a Koans, a Japanese term that dates from the 7th century. These parables were used to produce doubt, […]
Two Components to Freedom
Indispensable elements for our Self-liberation
In the Buddhist tradition, there are two essential components to our freedom. The first one is awareness. It is the wisdom that comes from training your mind to see clearly and the second one is compassion for yourself and for others.
These components are compared to the two wings of a bird, without which the bird would be unable to fly and be free.
Awareness
The first wing is our conscious awareness that allows us to recognize what is really happening in our moment-to-moment experience. […]