Dear friends and supporters of Mindfulness Outreach Initiative, As we come to the end of this year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support and involvement in our mission to provide comprehensive meditation instruction and mindfulness training to as many people as possible. Your contributions have allowed us to reach new communities […]
The Season of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving: Stuffing or mashed potatoes? Pumpkin pie? Or perhaps a pause from work duties and a time to spend with loved ones. And traditionally, it is also a time for giving thanks. Many of us reading this may agree that giving thanks, or acknowledging our gratitude is a practice we have learned to weave into […]
Like Water in the Desert
Tanha; usually translated for the Pali as craving or desire. Tanha is at the root of dukkha which is usually translated as suffering, this is the second Noble Truth that the Buddha discovered. A more literal translation of tanha is “thirst”. When desire becomes a motivation for our actions, thoughts, speech, then it is very […]
Candy Bar Kindness – A practice of Renunciation
Instructions: Place this extremely rich and delicious candy bar in your refrigerator. Each time the craving to nibble, eat, or taste the candy bar arises, gently say “No.” to the mind. Say “no” to the mind with tenderness and understanding. This is a “no” of lovingkindness. In the same way you might say “no” to […]
Guidance on Giving & Dana
Recently, I volunteered to serve as the registrar for an online retreat. This role primarily involved keeping track of participant registrations. It also included responding to their emails if they had issues or questions. Every email I received was about offering donations (called dāna in Buddhism). So, for this month’s blog article, I thought I […]
Do You Have A Meditation Ritual?
How would you answer if someone asked you to reflect on your practice? What would come to mind? Would you think about the time you spend in seated meditation? Would you jump to judgement on how your practice isn’t what you want it to be, or how you could make improvements? For newer practitioners, the […]