This week let’s continue the reflection on the topic of beliefs. Beliefs are thoughts that we hold as true or necessary. If a belief is not a thought, what is it? Do you have any beliefs that were true at one time that may not be true any more? How did you acquire your beliefs? In your view of the world around you, what role do beliefs play? Here a few a my thoughts on beliefs. Beliefs add certainty to our life. I believe when I see a red signal light I should always stop. I

Beliefs are this week’s topic for reflection. A belief can be something subjective like I’m a good person or I’m a bad person. A belief can be subtle and unquestioned for example I have self consciousness. The one thing that is true for all beliefs is we hold onto them. Hopefully when we are presented with evidence a belief is not true we are able to let it go and not insist it is true anyway. Some beliefs take time to let go of. For example when someone who we love di

This week’s topic for reflection is love. Love is a term that is used to express many things, from a fleeting infatuation to a timeless, selfless abiding. Love is the permission to participate, to see and be seen. Here are a few of my reflections on love. Unconditional-unbreakable-forever-no matter what love. Wide open. A relationship bigger than both of us. Receiving-sharing love through zazen. Love is an equal sign. You can’t give something you don’t have or receive

This week’s topic for reflection is satisfaction. Imagine you are at the end of your life and ask yourself, “Am I satisfied?” Before you read on, please take some time with this question. What does it mean to you to be satisfied? Is there something that needs to be completed or accomplished for you to feel satisfied? If you completed it do you feel complete or satisfied? Here’s a few of my thoughts on satisfaction. There’s the satisfaction that simply says “Yes

This week’s topic for reflection is anxiety, fear and clinging. We have anxiety about the unknown, especially what might happen in the future. We also have a fear of loss. What binds these together is our persistent need to cling because of our anxiety and fear. Let’s first reflect on anxiety. Anxiety is never very far away for me. I hold it in my eyes and around my eyes. Actually it shows up throughout my body as a sort of nervous alertness. The thought is something d

A quiet mind is this week’s topic for reflection. Quiet doesn’t necessarily mean silent or empty. In contrast there is the mind racing forward with thoughts and reactions. This mind seems distracted or at least obsessed with options and judgements. There is very little space for openness and genuine curiosity. This kind of mind often needs to be in charge and dominate. Another type of mind is the overly emotional one. I mean strong emotions that crowd everything else o

This week I would like to repost a previous topic for reflection on sanity, with editing. This morning’s Washington Post had an article on the situation in Minnesota. It said in part, “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Sunday accused the president and top Trump administration officials of putting out a “flat-out insane” narrative regarding Alex Pretti’s shooting death.” I don’t want to get into the politics of this situation but instead address sanity and insanity.

This week’s topic for reflection is being embodied. Yes, being embodied as a human being. Please take as much time as you can this week to recognize what it’s like to be alive as a human being in your body. Here are a few points I would like to make about this. For example we have feelings or emotions with our body. They include sadness, fear, joy, confusion, anger, and determination among others. How often are your emotions the boss that determines your actions? Whic

This week’s topic for reflection is living and Dying. Please reflect on the nature of life and the nature of death and their relationship. We approach our own death in different ways. It seems some people are so afraid of the idea of their own mortality they don’t want to think about it or talk about it. Others seem to be okay about it without really addressing the reality of it. It takes courage to approach the unknown and inquire with open curiosity. We are capable o

This week’s topic for reflection is “Your presence makes a difference.” Being present to your situation, to how you are feeling and what you are thinking and being present to those around you is vitally important. Being present means seeing the way things are with curiosity and wonder. Curiosity as if it’s new, because it is new. Meditation is a good way to practice being present. Zazen in its pure form is simply being present. In order to do this we have to allow ours

This week’s topic for reflection is stepping into a new year. It’s time to let go of the year 2025 and welcome  2026. Let’s reassess where we have been, where we are and where we hope to be. For me it’s a time of appreciating the life I’ve had which has been wonderful and rich. I’ve done amazing things and had the pleasure of knowing people that have given me so much. I have been extraordinarily blessed. Even almost dying from a malfunctioning gallbladder was and continues to

This week’s topic for reflection is choice. There are a number of things that help in making good choices. I think the most important one is seeing the situation clearly and honestly. What is the actual situation, not seen through habitual projections of what has happened in the past or anticipation of what might occur in the future.  Another is where you’re coming from, where your heart is or your intention. It makes a huge difference if you are self centered and greedy or c

This week’s topic for reflection is holding tight. Start by doing a body scan from the hair on your head to the toes on your feet. Slowly notice each part or area and see if there is any tightness or holding present. Just notice it. If it will let go, let it go. Then move down to scalp, forehead, eyes, etc. It’s interesting how we can hold tightness in our body without being aware of it. If you can stay with the body tightness, see if you can discover what’s behind it or caus

This week’s topic for reflection is, “Appreciate your life.” Let’s start with the word appreciate. This means to not go through life half asleep not caring but really be aware that you are alive. Notice the life all around. You don’t have to do anything different, just notice those around you. Really take them in. Notice the changing season and weather. How does it feel? How do you react to how it feels? Is it possible to appreciate your life without appreciating others?

This week’s topic for reflection is judgement. We judge others and we are judged by others. Sometimes this is done following a glance toward a stranger. Other times judging involves familiar people and situations. We also judge ourselves. What is required is a framework of judging to apply and a belief that we see clearly. Often the judgement is not openly expressed. Sometimes it is given and received quite harshly. This kind of judging involves a projection. I remembe

This Week’s topic for reflection is gratitude. Gratitude involves receiving something and being thankful. Ask what does this moment have to offer that you can be grateful for? If initially you don’t come up with anything, stay with the question. Perhaps look closer or more simply. For example the life sustaining air you breathe and the trees and plants that produce it for you. We offer back the CO2 they need to breathe to sustain their life also. Throughout the day pause for

This week’s topic for reflection is making a difference. We do many things everyday out of necessity or simple maintenance like washing the dishes or going to work to pay the bills. We also do things because we want to make a difference or make things better in the world. As I see it, there are two basic ways to make a difference and both can be for good or bad. One is doing things that change the world around us. It could be giving money to feed the hungry or voluntee

This week’s topic for reflection is “The question.” What is the question at the center of your life right now? It might be consuming and clearly articulated or hiding, small and mysterious. Perhaps your questions are not at the center of your life but more specific to certain difficulties or situations. This topic is to reflect on how the questions are uncovered, asked and how they are answered. For example once I was asked why are we embodied in this human form? I did

This week’s topic for reflection is My Earth Suit. This afternoon it stopped raining and the sun came out so I put on a jacket and extra pair of pants and went out into the woods behind our house. It was a beautiful autumn day. Going outside and walking in the woods is like putting on my earth suit. It’s a familiar place and it’s always different, interesting, broken and beautiful. During the rain it was windy so a lot was in disarray. I feel at home there. I’m not in a hurry

This week’s topic for reflection is a sense of humor. At last week’s no kings rally I was reminded of the importance of having a sense of humor in difficult times. Some of us find ourselves in situations that cause us great difficulty. I don’t intend to down play the seriousness or importance of these situations however finding a way to laugh or just smile can relieve a lot of stress. So take a minute to reflect on your life and where you might be able to lighten up or