The one thing that is certain in life is its unpredictability. Having an awareness that inner and outer circumstances could change in a moment can inform our lives in a profound way. Rather than living with vigilance and fear an on-going understanding of the fragility in life can lead us to more wakefulness, appreciation and freedom.
A talk focusing on the possibility of changing the direction of our lives and the importance of giving people an opportunity to thrive. This talk includes excerpts from Sean Kyler, one of the graduates give his moving valedictorian speech through a program that supports prison inmates getting their college degree.
It's one thing to remember and cultivate gratitude for the blessings in our life. But it's even more profound to experience the possibility of a grateful heart even in the midst of difficulties.
We are continuously faced with decisions in our lives. Some are minor while others are more significant. How can we skillfully choose between all the options?
In examining the mind we can see the insubstantiality of our thoughts and the mysterious ground of emptiness from which they arise. This talk includes songs from the Tibetan classic Flight of the Garuda which explores the nature of awareness--empty of substance but at the same time fully awake.
Even though we know that jumping on a particular thought train might lead to trouble in the mind, we can still hop on. How can we wake up and more consciously choose before taking the leap?
The external pressure to accomplish and keep up we may feel from others is usually not as burdensome as the internal pressure we put on ourselves. How can we see through this self-created suffering and live our life with more ease?
Just like anger and fear are contagious so is goodness. In fact, that is our true nature and there's a place in us that longs to come home to it. We just have to tune into all the goodness around us to remember.
Does awakening happen all at once or over time? Both. Even after one has an awakening experience there is still more work to be done. This talk explores awakening and the purification of habits that is an essential part of that process.
