Many people seek enlightenment or peace or nirvana as the goal of their spiritual practice. But how can there be peace when other people are suffering? I wrote this article about using practice to help understand how to help in the face of institutional racism for the Kwan Um School of Zen newsletter Primary Point. The article’s original […]
Activism and Social Change
Making Spirituality Relevant Again
Sometimes I say there is a spiritual undertone to my activism. Other times I think there is an activist tone to my spirituality. Ha! Actually, in these times, for me, spirituality = activism and activism = spirituality. These are hard words both for some in spirituality and some in activism, I know. Spiritual people are suspicious […]
The Activity of Spirituality and the Spirituality of Activism
What do spirituality and activism have to do with each other? “If your mind does not run off searching or think falsely or get involved with objects, then this very burning house of passion is itself the place to escape the three worlds.” –Zen Master Ta Hui Also, in the Abrahamic traditions there is a […]
On Not Feeling Guilty For Your Privilege
Lately, I have heard a lot of talk around people saying they feel guilty for their “privilege.” By privilege, they mean the life advantages they did not earn but that came as a result of skin color or birthplace or age or gender or sexuality. People eat good meals and then say, “I’m just feeling bad because I […]
Happiness = Caring for Environment and People
In all the spiritual disciplines, happiness is said to come in part from a sense of interdependence, at-oneness or what the Catholics call communion. When you are at-oned–atoned–there is no us and no them and nothing to fight. There is peace. And happiness. This type of happiness includes generosity because once you sense your interdependence […]
The Only Way to Feel Better About World Problems
There is only one way to feel better about world problems that worry you. It is just like any other problem you might face–like a flat tire. If you have a flat tire, ignoring it won’t help you. Blaming other people for it won’t help you. Similarly, whether you worry about race, climate, environment, world […]
Stop Race Terrorism With One Tiny Act
Frustration makes humans turn away. That is simple psychology. When we see something that concerns us, our brain does one of two things to reduce the physiological discomfort of the worry. First, it looks for action and, if it can find it, motivates us to take it. Second, if it can perceive no worthy action–it […]
Aligning your corporate career with your values
Many of us pine for meaning and purpose but feel that the only way to find it is to uproot ourselves from our careers and start anew–maybe in a non-profit or maybe as a social entrepreneur. In assuming we must take that approach, we put so many barriers between us an our meaningful lives. I’m an […]