#Roshi Joan Halifax

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

(from Rev. Roshi Joan Halifax of Upaya Zen Center)

[Thanks to Peege on bluesky]

[dk-thrive]

Empathy is not only a way to come alongside suffering in our small boat—it is a way to become the ocean.

Perhaps we don’t slip into the skin of others so much as we invite others to inhabit us, to slip into our skin, into our heart, thus making ourselves bigger beyond even our imagining. Empathy is not only a way to come alongside suffering in our small boat—it is a way to become the ocean. I believe that the gift of empathy makes us larger, if we don’t drown in the waters of suffering. And empathy that is alchemized through the medium of our wisdom gives us the energy to act selflessly on behalf of others. A world without empathy is a world that is dead to other—and if we are dead to other, we are dead to ourselves. The sharing of another’s pain can take us past the narrow canyon of selfish disregard and even cruelty into the larger, more expansive landscape of wisdom and compassion.

– Roshi Joan Halifax, Standing at the Edge (Flatiron Books, 2018) (via Rebecca Solnit and Alive on All Channels)

[jacobwren]

“Some of us receive the precious opportunity in this time to use the struggles that we are experiencing to dedicating ourselves to fostering sanity, care, and justice in the world. We have heeded the call to abandon futility and meet our moral anguish, our grief, and our fear with openness and curiosity. We have also allowed ourselves to be worked by the power of adversity in order to meet the unfolding and uncertain present with inquiry, hope, awe, and loving action. And if we can’t, then we do not turn away from that. Sometimes we have to pause, not ready to take the next step. Sometimes we make unfortunate mistakes and withdraw from the world in shame. Sometimes we falter in the midst. Sometimes we fall apart and stay that way for a long time. And sometimes we need to step away, to retreat, to take the backward step. It is simply not our time to step forward. But know that we, too, are being worked. And others are being worked in their own way. It is not to add the weight of judgement onto the burden that we are already carrying. It is not to turn away from our current experience, even if our response does not meet our so-called standards. It is rather to meet it with, ‘Hello old friend, I know you.’” - Roshi Joan Halifax, Meeting the More and the Marrow [From the book: Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility / Edited by  Rebecca Solnit & Thelma Young Lutunatabua]

[victusinveritas]

Joan Halifax offering water to Jizo Bodhisattva for all suffering children.

[ascensao-a-queda]

O luto é uma expressão do amor. Não é uma expressão de derrota. Amor pela pessoa que perdemos.

[...] Então, eu nunca dei as costas para os sentimentos do luto.

Eu sinto que o que o luto faz por mim e pode fazer por todos nós é nos humanizar profundamente.

- Roshi Joan Halifax

[dasenergi]

"Compassion is seeing others as ourselves, expanding our identity to include the other person." —Ram Dass

Krishna Das, Ram Dass, Roshi Joan Halifax

[seekingstars]

Friends, do not be confused by the "infoshum" (information noise) bombarding us via the media, social platforms, and more. Keep a clear mind, keep aligned with values of integrity and care, let your wisdom and courage be your guide, not the manipulations of ill-meaning players. -Roshi Joan Halifax

[dzgrizzle]

Listening to Roshi Joan Halifax, Buddhist teacher, talking about being in a mountain valley hermitage and meditating, learning “the value of solitude within the context of the natural world, where you aren't alone at all; you're under the authority of the mountains around you.”

[alexesguerra]

A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism: The Path of Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism: The Path of Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom Contributor(s): Dahl, Cortland (Author) , Mingyur Rinpoche, Yongey (Foreword by) Publisher: Shambhala ISBN: 1645470970 Physical Info: 1.2" H x 8.1" L x 5.7" W (0.8 lbs) 272 pages CORTLAND DAHL is a scientist, Buddhist scholar and translator, and meditation teacher. Beginning in the early 1990s, his passion for training the mind led him on a journey to Buddhist centers across Asia, culminating in eight years living in Tibetan refugee settlements near Kathmandu, Nepal. He is actively involved in scientific research on meditation and human flourishing at the Center for Healthy Minds, and he cofounded Tergar, a network of meditation centers with activities on six continents, with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Cortland lives with his wife and son in Madison, Wisconsin. Review Quotes: "Cortland Dahl, an advanced practitioner who is also deeply immersed in the scientific research into the psychological and physiological benefits of meditation, guides readers through fascinating transformative practices. His goal is to distill esoteric teachings into practices that busy modern people can employ in their daily lives. I'm all for it." -- Dan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of 10% Happier "An extremely clear, user-friendly, and compelling guide to meditation practice as seen through the sweeping perspective of a Vajrayana lens. Cortland Dahl's disarming honesty regarding his personal experience and his relationship with his Tibetan teacher invite and ultimately entrain the reader right into nondual meditation practice. Dahl systematically maps out and guides us in a contemporary perspective on the essential teachings of this ancient and venerable lineage, their relevance to the present moment, and most importantly, their relevance to you, the reader, as a unique and uniquely beautiful human being." -- Jon Kabat-Zinn, bestselling author of Wherever You Go, There You Are and Coming to Our Senses "Guiding us with a gentle hand, Cortland Dahl leads us through every stage of the Buddhist journey, beginning with the bedrock of the Four Noble Truths and the altruistic aspiration to enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, and culminating in the profound view of ultimate truth. In a clear and accessible manner, he offers a comprehensive exposition of the Buddhist teachings that will appeal to all readers." -- Matthieu Ricard, author of Notebooks of a Wandering Monk and The Quantum and the Lotus "This book opens an extraordinary door to meditation--wise, practical, brave, and accessible." -- Roshi Joan Halifax, abbot of Upaya Zen Center "This jewel of a book accomplishes the seemingly impossible task of distilling ancient Buddhist texts into relatable and accessible teachings without watering them down. A warm and accomplished teacher of challenging material, Cortland Dahl has written a brilliant and indispensable guide that shows both new and experienced meditators innovative ways to integrate these ancient texts into their lives anytime and anywhere." -- Susan Kaiser Greenland, author of Real-World Enlightenment, Mindful Games, and The Mindful Child " A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism is that rare combination of impressive clarity and warmheartedness, so that we feel invited to our own direct experience of a path to freedom. Reading it, whether you are new to meditation or a more experienced student, will enrich your understanding and inspire you to live these truths." -- Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life " A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism offers anyone, from the merely curious, to beginners in meditation, to 'old dog' seasoned practitioners, a wry and useful overview. This guide can be used on its own by solitary meditators or serve as a handbook to the valuable lessons in Buddhism and meditation offered by Tergar International, the organization guided by Mingyur Rinpoche. I highly recommend it." -- Daniel Goleman, New York Times bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence " A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism is a gem. Easily accessible, down-to-earth, and practical. This book should be a companion to anyone with an interest in the Buddhist path. Replete with compelling personal stories, sprinkled with simple, user-friendly practices, and comprehensive in its overview of the entire Buddhist path, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in meditation, and really for all those who wish to flourish." -- Richard J. Davidson, New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain and coauthor of Altered Traits "This is a delightful and extremely useful book. Cortland Dahl expertly describes the essence of the three main Buddhist traditions, guides the reader through accessible practices, and brings it all to life with his own embodied wisdom." -- Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety and The Craving Mind "Clear, open, friendly, warm, and wonderful, especially for those new to Tibetan Buddhism." -- Buddhistdoor Global Publisher Marketing: Amid stress, anxiety, and life's challenges, Buddhism offers a path that can meet them fearlessly with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. This core resource for Buddhist practice offers accessible teachings for beginners or for anyone ready to explore meditation more deeply. Buddhism is rooted in the simple idea that you can train your mind to suffer less and flourish more. In this experiential guide, Cortland Dahl will take you on a journey through the core principles and meditation practices of the Buddhist tradition. The journey begins with teachings on the Four Noble Truths, practical observations that will help you understand the causes of unhappiness, and how you can access inner calm and deep insight through meditation. The journey continues with teachings on compassion, buddha nature, and the profound principle of emptiness, before culminating in a discussion of meditation practices that use common experiences like dreams and strong emotions to awaken. Through accessible teachings and relatable stories, you will learn simple methods to transform your mind and embrace true, unshakeable happiness.

[meditation-practices]

Words of Wisdom for April 22, 2024

Dear Friends: Simply meditating or praying for change is not enough. There has to be action.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet House Read More Mini Mindfulness Breaks Click here to offer what you can for eBooks and Guided Mediations! Here’s an interesting post from Meditation Practices: Roshi Joan Halifax Talked About Compassion Roshi Joan Halifax talked about compassion when she…

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

"Perhaps we don’t slip into the skin of others so much as we invite others to inhabit us, to slip into our skin, into our heart, thus making ourselves bigger beyond even our imagining.

Empathy is not only a way to come alongside suffering in our small boat—it is a way to become the ocean. I believe that the gift of empathy makes us larger, if we don’t drown in the waters of suffering. And empathy that is alchemized through the medium of our wisdom gives us the energy to act selflessly on behalf of others. A world without empathy is a world that is dead to other—and if we are dead to other, we are dead to ourselves. The sharing of another’s pain can take us past the narrow canyon of selfish disregard and even cruelty into the larger, more expansive landscape of wisdom and compassion."

--Roshi Joan Halifax, Standing at the Edge

(Rebecca Solnit)

[lovegentleholypure]

“How can we give and accept care with strong-back, soft-front compassion, moving past fear into a place of genuine tenderness? I believe it comes about when we can be truly transparent, seeing the world clearly- and letting the world see into us.”

 Roshi Joan Halifax

[saybubblesinanangryvoice]

Strong back, soft front...

I want to unpack this a little bit. A quote attributed to prolific researcher and explorer of shame, guilt, human-ness, Brene Brown (she adds “and a wild heart” at the end), and Roshi Joan Halifax, American Zen Buddhist teacher. 

I was listening to a beautiful podcast yesterday (On Being - check it out) with Brene featured, and this message was so clearly visible in my mind. 

My default response is frequently anger when I am hurt, or when I see others hurting. I do not transition from sadness to disappointment - I want to stand up and man, just not play nice!

This may be surprising for people to interact with me in a professional setting/daily because I seem pretty neutral haha Which I will always be in a professional setting because it is a professional setting. 

This quote struck me because I think it is a great balance for me to adopt/work towards. In some instances, I don’t think women get angry enough - we do not own our fury. In other cases, I know anger will get nowhere in the efforts of finding a productive solution. 

Perhaps we can approach things with love, but supported by a strong foundation of “this is what I will not tolerate, this is what I will speak out against.” Whether or not that is received is in the hands of the receiver...but we can feel good know we stayed true to ourselves, while respecting another. 

It also goes back to that idea of being lonely, and standing alone - when we force ourselves to belong for fear of the former, and learning to brave the latter when we need to. 

Some thoughts going into your long weekend :) 

[typo1]

"All too often our so called strength comes from fear, not love. Instead of having a strong back, many of us have a protected front"

Roshi Joan Halifax

[mauitime]

Celebration of Life: Remembering Ram Dass at Maui Arts and Cultural Center

Celebration of Life: Remembering Ram Dass at Maui Arts and Cultural Center

Celebration of Life: Remembering Ram Dass will be at Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Monday, February 10th. Honor and celebrate the life of Ram Dass with a gathering of music, meditation, laughter, and reflections. Special guests, friends, and long-time collaborators include Krishna Das, Lei’ohu Ryder and Maydeen ‘Iao, Raghu Markus, Roshi Joan Halifax, Frank Ostaseski, Jack Kornfield, Trudy…