Meditations

“Pain is not the enemy. The fear of passing through pain is.” – Pia Mellody “According to Buddhism, it is our fear at experiencing ourselves directly that creates suffering.” – Mark Epstein, Thoughts without a Thinker. Last year, I went to a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, during which I had one of the most...

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. ‘I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” One of the problems I’m finding with feeling, understanding, and...

The only reason we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes....

Sometimes I feel that there are two parts of me, and they don’t talk to each other. They act out. Part A: “Why in burning hell did you do that? Part B: “Why are you always criticizing me?” Part A: “Because you’re damn stupid!” Part A: “Again? You did that in purpose!” Part B:...

I was surprised to be so happy tonight In the big, dark, empty, silent house. I did cry a little, reading people’s blogs on election’s hopes and fears. (I wondered, too, who was I really crying for.) When I heard frightening noises, I went to the kitchen and washed dishes. But most of the...

A longing for affection spilled out of my loneliness. It flew out and floated around, unbound, plastic bag in the wind. It went up up up, moved east and west, then down. As you were walking through the parking lot, it was caught in your arms. You looked at it puzzled, not sure what...