Opened randomly the beautiful book "Devotions", by Mary Oliver , to read this poem: The Buddha's Last Instruction by Mary Oliver “Make of yourself a light,” said the Buddha, before he died. I think of this every morning as the east begins to tear off its many clouds of darkness, to send up the first signal -- a white fan streaked with pink and violet, even green. An old man, he lay down between two sala trees, and he might have said anything, knowing it was his final hour. Th

I'm enjoying reading the book "Yoga for Pain Relief". Here are a few quotes that I love: ..."Finally, rest your hands anywhere that is comfortable. Notice the full movement of the breath in and out of the body and the full movement of the body as you breathe. Notice the sensations of each breath in and each breath out. This is your connection to life sustaining energy. All you need to do is welcome it. By devoting your attention to the breath, you give your body permission to

Thanks to Donna, who sent me this wonderful text, from the book Every Day Spirit , by Mary Davis Perfect Abundance Meditation from January 6, Every Day Spirit by Mary Davis Gratitude makes sweet miracles of small moments. Slow down a little. Notice more. Breathe is all in. Give thanks. We are rich with gifts, right where we are, when we begin this day with a grateful heart. Today, let's register the sight of natural beauty and linger over small moments of tea and frien

This is the poem that wanted to be read on the last night of 2025, and first morning of 2026. Thanks to all those who participated in today's practice, so grateful for our sangha and for each one of you. Welcome 2026, I'm ready for you! There are guides who can show you the way. Use them. But they will not satisfy your longing. Keep wanting that connection with all your pulsing energy. The throbbing vein will take you further than any thinking. ... Observe the wonders as they

Thanks to my friend Brynna for sharing this poem with me. This Is the Time to Be Slow by John O’Donohue This is the time to be slow Lie low to the wall Until the bitter weather passes Try, as best you can, not to let The wire brush of doubt Scrape from your heart All sense of yourself And your hesitant light. If you remain generous, Time will come good; And you will find your feet Again on fresh pastures of promise, Where the air will be kind And blushed with beginning. From

Reviewing my posts around the Holidays, I read "Preparing the Heart for the Holidays" , where I share part of a poem that Tara Brach shared in her talk. Here is the full poem. Peace Is This Moment Without Judgment by Dorothy Hunt ​ Do you think peace requires an end to war? Or tigers eating only vegetables? Does peace require an absence from your boss, your spouse, yourself?... Do you think peace will come some other place than here? Some other time than Now? In some other he

Path by Jack Hirschman Go to your broken heart. If you think you don’t have one, get one. To get one, be sincere. Learn sincerity of intent by letting life enter because you’re helpless, really, to do otherwise. Even as you try escaping, let it take you and tear you open like a letter sent like a sentence inside you've waited for all your life though you’ve committed nothing. Let it send you up. Let it break you, heart. Broken-heartedness is the beginning of all real receptio

During our Yoga Therapy for Brain Health session today, I shared this quote, which is originally in Spanish: "You may not know it, but your brain dances with you every time you move. When a song comes on and you let the body respond, something profound happens inside you, your neurons begin to synchronize as if they were following the same beat. Dancing is not just moving your body, it is a dialogue between mind, emotion and rhythm, and science confirms it. Dancing can heal y

If you ever feel that your efforts are falling short, read these quotes. The truth is that any intentional movement toward presence, even when you relapse into trance, interrupts old patterning and serves your healing - Tara Brach On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear. - Bhagavad Gita Read same quote by Tara Brach with link to one of her articles on this

Meditation, so I’ve heard, is best accomplished if you entertain a certain strict posture. Frankly, I prefer just to lounge under a tree. So why should I think I could ever be successful? Some days I fall asleep, or land in that even better place — half asleep — where the world, spring, summer, autumn, winter — flies through my mind in its hardy ascent and its uncompromising descent. So I just lie like that, while distance and time reveal their true attitudes: they never hear

The truth is that any intentional movement toward presence, even when you relapse into trance, interrupts old patterning and serves your healing - Tara Brach I shared this in my yoga class, and today I found this article , "Awakening From the Trance of Unworthiness", where she quotes Rilke. It’s here in all the pieces of my shame That now I find myself again. I yearn to belong to something, to be contained In an all-embracing mind that sees me... —Rainer Maria Rilke Glimpse I

Thanks so much to my dear friend Brynna Hurwitz for sharing this with me, and for reading it today in class. When I run after what I...

Today I opened randomly "The Essential Rumi", and my eyes fell into this poem. I have been listening to a beautiful piano solo by Johan...

I first read this poem in the beautiful compilation "Risking Everything 110 Poems of Love and Revelation". Here it is: This Much I Do...

My sister Lourdes shared these lines in our yoga class, excerpt from the poem "Sobremesa", by Rosario Castellanos. Gracias Lourdes!...

I have been using these lines as inspiration during my meditation: “Sit quietly and listen for a voice that will say, "Be more silent."...

Thanks to my dear friend Monica Korde, Poet Laureate of Belmont and a wonderful person, for sharing this poem with me. A Center By Ha Jin...

This poem found me again a couple days ago. Thank you Toni Goodman, for sharing it with us at your Poetry circle, years ago. Poetry has a...

Going through some pages of "The Essential Rumi" , translation by Coleman Barks, I encounter this very familiar, very short and profound...

No better love than love with no object, no more satisfying work than work with no purpose. If you could give up tricks and cleverness,...