Ever practice Tonglen meditation? I often do. Especially lately. It's powerful stuff..

Changing pain to compassion.

We are shaped by our thoughts

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

~ Buddha Quote ~

If you had one wish for Christmas what would it be?

John Lennon answers in the video below:

Peace on Earth.

That implies no violence.

No starving children.

No violent minds.

No violent households.

No frustration.

No fear.

"We think the future is made in your mind"

Compassion. If you have any enemies, feel compassion for them too.

"Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away or become something better. It's about befriending who we are already." - Pema Chodron

Beryl Bender Birch

Beryl Bender Birch "Transformation Happens" from Omega Institute on Vimeo.

More than 100,000 Canadian Soldiers died in conflicts since 1899-Lest we forget

Heading out momentarily to the Victory Square Cenotaph. Every year my partner and I go down for the Remembrance Day Ceremonies and Parade. Its a tradition for us and we don't miss it. There are celebrations all over the province today. Wherever you are, I know we are all breathing the same air. Namaste.

Whether you are for or against Occupy Vancouver...

Michael Stone (click here) will be giving a 20 minute talk there TODAY (Sunday Nov 6) at noon at Occupy Vancouver, followed by a discussion- "the next stage of the occupy movement will be dealing with conflict. What can we do?"

Happy International day of peace today. Spread it far and wide! Be it!

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix

How active are your prefrontal lobes?

Browsing through some of my favourite yoga blogs when I spied this AMAZING video. Thanks Devil Wears Prana! Enjoy! Hope you love neuroscience as much as me. I just LOVE this stuff. Watch this until the very end. Fascinating.

Yoga Saves

Angry? Feeling disconnected? Great little video with Hala Khouri and some at-risk and incarcerated youth in LA. Yoga has helped these young men tap into their inner strength, like who they are, and realize they have choices so they can find some peace and clarity and deal with their anger, trauma and stress. Yoga offers them (and us) tools to find peace in the chaos of life. Yoga is a powerful contributer to social change. It's the high without the drugs. (seriously). Yoga and/or other mindfulness based practices should be taught in every school in the world as far as I am concerned. Couldn't help but share this video. Namaste.

Dear friends in Japan from Thich Nhat Hanh

March 15 2011

Dear friends in Japan,

As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died.

The pain of one part of humankind is the pain of the whole of humankind. And the human species and the planet Earth are one body. What happens to one part of the body happens to the whole body.

An event such as this reminds us of the impermanent nature of our lives. It helps us remember that what's most important is to love each other, to be there for each other, and to treasure each moment we have that we are alive. This is the best that we can do for those who have died: we can live in such a way that they continue, beautifully, in us.

Here in France and at our practice centers all over the world, our brothers and sisters will continue to chant for you, sending you the energy of peace, healing and protection. Our prayers are with you.

Thich Nhat Hanh