Mar 25, 20232 min read

The Heart of the Matter

What you do for yourself, any gesture of kindness, any gesture of gentleness, any gesture of honesty and clear seeing toward yourself, will affect how you experience your world. In fact, it will transform how you experience the world. What you do for yourself, you're doing for others, and what you do for others, you're doing for yourself.

- Pema Chodron

Trader Joes has some beautiful spring flowers right now .

These are peony tulips.

My walks have been pretty inspiring with the peek of colors from the first bloom of Spring. I hope you are enjoying the change in season too. Likely, because I have been teaching yoga and meditation for quite a while, I hear people often say to me how they want to meditate, calm themselves and feel more grounded and centered during their day. "I'd like to be more zen" or "oh you are so zen" they will say. Well, the good news is that it is available to you. Each of us has the intrinsic capacity to be present, awake and more compassionate to ourselves and everyone around us. These are qualities we can develop within ourselves. That is the purpose of practicing yoga, mindfulness and meditation. These are the gateways to develop these good qualities.

The great and beloved Vietnamese zen master Thich Nhat Hanh said, "practicing dhamma is a clever way to enjoy life...happiness is available, please help yourself to it". Dhamma is often described as the teachings of the Buddha. I have also heard it described "as the way things are" so that we may see things clearly.

So if you like, "being more zen" it is available to you...and you should help yourself to it. These teachings are not something to just admire from afar in other people. It is not something to just understand in theory but to put into practice and to embody.

It is a choice we all have in this life. It is yours for the taking.

Reflecting back on the wise words that I shared with you above from the great Tibetan Buddhist Monk Pema Chodron, the practice is not just for ourselves. Yes, at first we usually come into the practice with curiosity and a wish to alleviate certain things about ourselves whether it be back pain, anxiety or a busy mind. Our practice will inevitably help others. If you develop more presence of mind, more patience, more open heartedness, more acceptance....this will effect everyone around you....your family, your friends, your co workers, people you don't even know. What a gift and contribution to this world. Please help yourself to it.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sundays 4:30pm-5:30pm www.bhaktibarn.com

Mondays 9am-10am Summit YMCA www.thesay.org

Tuesdays 11:15am-12:15pm www.bhaktibarn.com

Tuesdays 6pm-7pm Summit YMCA www.thesay.org

Been awhile since you unrolled your mat? Email me if you are interested in starting back quietly for privates or small group privates at your home including guided meditation sessions

SPRINGTIME MID-WEEK MINI RETREAT

WITH JENNY & SHERRI THURSDAY April 13th 12:45-2pm

Save the date!