For Sunday January 29th, 2017

Hello everyone, Tibetans are the only people known to have changed from a warrior culture to being peaceful and spiritually oriented. Despite being warriors they still maintained a connection to the Earth and saw themselves as shepherds of the Earth rather than owners free to exploit resources for profit.

This compassionate core provided them with a foundation upon which Buddhist teachings could build a new focus for their society.  

Today in our fractured and often exploitive world what compassion do we have to build a better world upon? Perhaps the compassion we show to each other. 

May we sit this Sunday for the strength and the will to treat everyone we interact with compassionately. May we treat all others as we would like to be treated ourselves.

Thank you,

Richard

For Sunday January 22nd, 2017

Hello to everyone, self-awareness is a difficult and often painful path. Our inner conflicts can be embarrassing to discover and uncover. One way to avoid such torment is by following authority, relinquishing our challenging inner work to follow preset rules in hopes of achieving happiness.

But authority creates power which corrupts the leader and blinds the follower. It leads us away from the matter of our inner issues and gives a balm which is temporary at best. 

May we sit this Sunday for the courage to dig in. May we see ourselves clearly and lovingly. May such love fully 'be' on this Earth.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday January 15th, 2017

Hello everyone, in this sometimes troubling era discerning false prophets by the fruits of their labors can take time. The fruits to look for are laid out by all the great religions and are known in your heart; patience, wisdom, wonder, kindness, and loving outwardly rather than inwardly to self, among others. 

It is possible to hold these same fruits as a benchmark for ourselves and give the gift of time to all concerned.

This evening, as we seek to improve the world, let us improve ourselves within it. May we sit for these fruits in our lives. May we may recognize them in others.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard

For Sunday January 8th, 2017

Hello everyone, when we can 'smile from our hearts' at all people, when we can see them as aspects of the Divine no matter how lost they seem to be in our view, we enlarge our hearts and create connections.

At times like this when there are those who would profit from division and anger these connections are critical. 

This evening may we begin building our future from the inside until it shows on the outside. 

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday January 1st, 2016

Hello everyone, in this season of political and economic discord between the left and the right, fake and real news, haves and have-nots, it may be well to retain a broad perspective. 

Yes, each of us must follow what we find in our hearts and do the work which comes to hand. But even snowflakes with their myriad variations are not in angry conflict. Each is different, some landing among the trees and some upon the ground, yet keep in mind it is winter – summer will come, and all will rejoin.

May we sit this evening for the presence of mind to see the fuller picture, even when delving into details.

Thank you all,

Richard