Zen Wisdom For Your Everyday Life

Send us a textLEARNING HOW TO SAY HELLO Our usual way is usually to resist what comes to us in life, fight it, change it, try to run away from it. Zen practice  does the opposite...we learn how to say hello. We sit still, walk mindfully, welcome whatever comes into our lives, truly experience it. We are making room for everything to come as it is, have space to grow, alter, transform, even illuminate us. It is not what comes that is so difficult, but the way we receive, or refuse to receive it, and then to let it go.  In this practice we simply  give life the room to be as it is. And, in doing so, we  too, have the room to be who we are, and transform, as well.Support the show

Send us a textIt's easy to become afraid of all the storms that life presents. Especially when they're  announced with terror and catastrophic expectations.  All kinds of storms appear these days in every area of our lives, weather, health, politics, work and just daily living. Let's not agree with these announcements. Let's not see the every changing face of life as one storm after the next.. Instead, let us learn to see the beauty, power and healing each so called storm contains... Let us learn to play with it. A few snowflakes are filled with delight, and so are all happenings. As we receive life's events in a joyous, playful and grateful manner, it will affect them as well...  When we feel pleasure and love for a lion rolling along the road, the lion calms and quiets, responds to what is going on.We are not victims of any storm, but the smile in the center of it.Support the show

Send us a textThere are simple new steps to take to make the New Year rich and fulfilling. In this episode we explore ways of realizing that we are ready right now to live a complete and fulling life. There is no point in waiting to attain this or that, or to fill a sense of missing something. As we take these simple, new steps, we realize that all we need in right here. In the sharing and giving of ourselves, great healing, enjoyment and fulfillment appear.Support the show

Send us a textWe all want the year to be new, fresh and exciting. Many make New Year resolutions hoping that thngs will work out as they wish. Yet the true secret to making the year new is explored in this podcast. You are the one who must become new, who must approach all the changes and challenges differently. Then it's easy to see new possibilities everywhere.Support the show

Send us a textWelcome to a new era of Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life.  As the new year comes, In the next podcasts we will explore what it means to truly live, a life with value, fulfillment, connection and joy. The question of what it means to live is explored as we would explore a koan. We'll also look at the ways in which, unknowingly, we sabotage the great goodness that is right here before us.The deepest truth is that it is easy and joyous to find out way, that Life is always beckoning to us, and all we need to do, is fully stop, pay real attention and connect with what is right in front of our eyes. Support the show

We all have the power of decision. We can decide to turn onto a new road and Choose Life, choose strength, aliveness, compassion and the way of healing for all. This choice needs to be made over and over includes many new steps, which we will cover week by week. In the process we will learn how to give up our attachment to anger, revenge, and other ways of destruction, and other ways of feeling strong. This new choice can seem unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but step by step as we embark upon it, as our well being and happiness grow, it becomes clear where we are going, as we find wonderful companions along the way.Support the show

When the New Year comes, we all wish each other a Happy New Year, or a happy new day or happy new relationship. But how do we truly make the New Year new?Most of the time we live in the past, comparing each event with another in our memory. We can live our lives this way as well. But it isn't difficult to allow our lives to be fresh and new eachmoment. There's actually nothing we need to do. It's already fresh and new each moment. It's just a matter of leaving the past in the past. Staying with what and who we are now.. allowing people and events to transform and enjoy the change that takes place, rather than fighting it.The joy of a new day, a new breath and new moment is truy exhilirating. Allow it to wash over you and allow your life to become a wonderful adventure.Support the show

As we return to the root of our lives we embrace all aspects, the present, the past, our time alone and precious relationships with others. This episode includes teachings from both Zen and Jewish practice to explore the ways in which they uplift and enhance one another and help us to be whole.Support the show

Many of us fear change, because we experience it as loss. We do all we can to keep our world stable, secure, and as we want it to be. Most of our time is guarding against change, fighting and refusing it. But the truth is that life itself is constant change. It is growth, discovery, and the precious unfolding of who we are. Change is the way we learn and ripen. To fight change, to judge ourselves as failures if things don't go our way is a cause of great suffering.  A better way is to say Yes to change, to see each moment as a "wonder",  and to enter the flow of what is going on.

We are driven by the need to be right, not wrong. And many of the conflicts in our relationships are caused by this, as well.  When a difference of any kind arises, we immediately insist that we are right, the other is wrong. These labels cover the larger truth of the matter, as we enter into conflict, anger and often loss. There is another way to handle this. Realize that we are all both right and wrong all the time. And that both can also be right at the same time. Give up these labels and learn to truly listen to the person you are with. And to yourself as well.  As we give space to ourselves, listen to all that is going on, a larger point of view arises, along with compassion. We also see the real person who is in front of us, what they need and are trying to say. So:   Let The Other Be Right. You can always be right later. Make space for the other to express themselves without opposition. And make space for you to do that as well. This is the basis of all true relationships and of a friendship that can o

So much of our lives are filled with questions that have no answer. We go around and around in our mind trying to figure everything out. These questions about ourselves, others, what will happen, and what's the best road to take, plague us endlessly. They prevent us from being present for what's going on and fully experiencing our lives. In fact the questions create so much confusion, they actually lead us in the wrong direction. Without doubt, there is another way to receive the clarity and insight so many of us are longing for.  To begin it's always with us, waiting to be revealed. It is so important to  stop trying to figure everything out rationally, and to open our minds and hearts so that our deeper truths can come to the surface and guide us all by themselves.

No matter what's going on, how we see the event or person,  determines what they becomes to us. We can find that which is devastating about them and ties us in knots.  Or, we can let go of opposing and rejecting what's going  on,  and experience each moment fully, just as it is. When we do that we make room for things to change and flow.  As we let go, so do others we're in contact with. As we open our minds and hearts to what is happening,  we gain a different perspective as well. Suddenly, we are able to see the beauty, the fun and all possibilities that each moment and person holds. This new insight comes from letting go of clinging to our demands, beliefs and expectations about how everything is "supposed" to be. As things then change and flow, they naturally reveal all the goodness and beauty within.

We're all looking for thrills and chills as we go through life. Our ordinary everyday life seems too simple, dull and repetetive.  To make life special we feel we have to jazz things up, create dazzling goals, become someone special, receive all kinds of acclaim. Or else we've failed, missed our chance. Zen practice shows us just the opposite. Every day, just as it comes and as it goes, is extremely precious. As we attend to it, stop trying to twist it into something else, and honor the moment just as it is, something beautiful happens. We see the uniqueness in every moment and every person who comes our way. We also see that nothing at all is repetetive.  It is only our lack of attention to what happens, that makes it seem as though the same old thing  happens again and again. It does not and cannot. And even our illusion of being "stuck" is only an illusion. Who we are and what is going on is constant change.

We live most of our lives surrounded by Dire Predictions, a snowstorm is on the way, huge winds, dangerous conditiions. And, then, before we know it, the snow has turned to light rain and the sun begins breaking through. Dire predictions come from all directions regarding most aspects of our lives. When we focus upon them, believe them, guard against them all day long, our lives are tangled in fear and pain. When we stay with things as they are, feel them, enjoy them,  become engaged with what the moment brings, gratitude, happiness and also compassion bubbles up. Life brings us what is needed, one moment after the next, including natural insight which allows us to do what is needed,  appropriate, and what is beneficial for all.

How many of us can really allow ourselves to really live, feel the sun, hear our neighbor, be present and available to all that arrives. This is actually a great art, and in order to do it, we must learn the great secret of "Allowing". It is rare that we allow anything to happen, just as it does. Immediately, we want to fix it, judge it, take control of it, whether it is an event or a relationship. The problem is that we are simply reacting out of our conditioning, rather than having a larger perspective on all that's going on. When we can stop a few moments, stop fighting and opposing things, not get pulled in to the dance, that pause is the start of allowing. The more we simply allow life to be life, the more our perspective changes and we become able to respond appropriately. All action taken then will come from a totally different place, and inevitably be benefifical to all.

We are always waiting for something to happen to make things right. There's usually something missing in what's going on right now. We want it to turnout differenly and won't stop until it does. There's a picture in our mind of how everything is supposed to go. Most of us refuse to feel satisfied until our picture is fulfilled. Then we'll feel as if we've won, worthwhile.  But life has its own ideas about what must happen, and the conflict between our pictures and those that life presents ties us in a knot. It takes our joy away, fills us with trepidatioin and does not allow us to see the incredible beauty and wisdom in  the way of life  Once we stop battling and opposing life, we can pause and see what's really happening,  discover our true role, and become able to move forward with unexpected happiness.

We are not aware of how much we reject life. A gap takes place before we are willing to notice, engage with and accept what's going on. Often we just block things we don't like out. Or, our initial response is to judge what's taking place, filter it through our past experiences. Take a few steps away. It is rare to simply to be present for whatever the moment brings. And beyond that it is an act of wonder to learn how to actually fall in love with the life we are living now. Not the life we wanted, dreamt of or have been struggling so hard to make happen. What is needed to fall in love with what's going on right now? How can we engage with it fully and be filled with good will, no matter what?

True communication comes in many forms. So often we present an image of ourselves, play a role or speak to impress, or influence. This type of interaction causes division, not only within ourselves, but in our relationships. All long for true connection, to be seen, known and heard. And how is that possible, when we are not  interacting simply and diretly from the truth of who we are.  Yet, no matter what we say, the truth of who we Are, presents itself naturally. When we align our words, truth and deeds, that is when our true life begins and also beautiful connections with the world.

We all wish each other a Happy New Year, and mean it. But what does it mean to be truly happy?? Usually we think it includes lots of laughs and smiles, a happy face and demeanor. Certainly, it is a pleasure to feel that way, but how long does a feeling like that last? It comes and goes due to circumstances. When things go our way, the smiles appear, when a sudden thunder storm comes, our smiles disappear. Yet, there is a way to live a Truly Happy Live, a way to greet whatever arises with a feeling of wonder, aliveness and engagement. When we can truly savor the preciousness of our lives, of each moment and encounter, and encounter it fully, this is a life not only of true happiness, but immebaw value and growth.

Even though everyday is new,  we drag the old along with us wherever we go.  Then, longing for a new start, we look for it everywhere. Some move to  a new neighborhood or relationship, profession, even new haircut.. As we approach the new year, we reflect upon the year gone by and dwell upon how we want things to change. However, one thing we overlook, is that things change every moment. Every breath is fresh, every day is new. It's just us. We're not aware of it, but cling to things gone by.  Change is not difficult. It can come so easily with this one secret: For the New Year To Be New, You Must Be New. Try letting go, and allowing the flow of life to make you New. Become aware of the freshness of each moment. And all the possibilities it holds.