Wisdom & Mindfulness

Mindful relationships for a better future

“Pay attention right now to what bothers you the most about yourself in your relationships to others and trust that simply by paying attention, little by little you will see what you need to do.” Norman Fischer

Building relationships that last is not an easy task, but that does not mean it is ‘mission impossible’.

Seeing our present venture will shapeshift in time requires that we put in the attention it deserves.

Just like upkeeping a garden, if we want to see it flourish, we need to cultivate the ground regularly. 

Yes, the weather may turn, but with the right motivation, effort, and enough attention, it will grow.

Remember this is not a onetime thing, a relationship just like a plot of garden needs groundkeepers.

The basics

Understanding our relationships are ours to cultivate is the first step in the right direction, take charge.

Knowing our efforts may not always lead to the anticipated results will help us keep a healthy outlook.

Motivated by a genuine wish to create something that will have a future guides our present attempts.

Realizing the energy, we invest may take time to show its fruit asks that we be patient and forbearing.

Continue reading “Relationships begin with a mindful you” →

Mindful that escape won’t help

“Be mindful that you are in the universe and the universe is in you: if the universe is, you are; if you are, the universe is.” Thich Nhat Hanh, Vo-Dihn Mai, Mobi Ho

The world as we know it is changing at a startling pace, but are we mindful of its effects on us?

Surely, local, and global events impact our mindset and actions, and there is no way to avoid it.

When the reality around seems bleak and appears to spiral down out of control, we feel helpless.

To shield ourselves from this ‘undesirable’ present, we will look for ways to forget what’s happening.

Continue reading “I am mindful | The alternative to escapism” →

Right Concentration | More than just a skill

“Meditation is right concentration.” Thomas Cleary

Right concentration is listed last in the Buddha’s eightfold path of liberation, but it is of prime importance.

Justly so, failure to keep our mind from wandering off has us often make stupid mistakes.

Simply because we’re physically present doesn’t mean our attention is where it should be, right here.  

The ability to concentrate is not just about maintaining our focus long enough, it goes much deeper.

Continue reading “Right Concentration | Master your mind” →

Right action | Spread you wings

“Abstaining from the destruction of life, abstaining from taking what is not given, and abstaining from sexual misconduct — this is called right action.” Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, Bhikkhu Bodhi

Is this the right action? It’s not something we always think about, we often act without thinking and regret it later.

The fact is we are not thinking through our choices, we rarely take into account how it will affect us long-term.

We may know right from wrong, but we handle things the worse way, mostly out of deeply rooted habits.

Not only that, we don’t seem to learn from past mistakes and go on repeating our steps blindly.

Continue reading “The principle of right action” →

The suffering of the body | Living with disability

“Those disabled by ill health Are helpless, powerless to act.” Pema Chodron

The suffering of the body is an inevitable fact of life, but for some of us it means more than pain.

We all experience the momentary distress that comes with illness, the disturbance of bodily aches, and the discomfort it provokes.

What about those living with a physical disability? you can’t take a pill to recover and it’s here to stay.

Whether you were born with a handicap, suffered an injury or illness, you have no choice but live with it.

Continue reading “The suffering of the body | Being human” →