Path of Action: Day 24 Contemplating work deeply, you can move past the “tick . . . tick . . . tick” of time passing, past the pressure and tension of time pressing in on you. Going inside the work, you can enjoy yourself fully, even when you are operating with tight deadlines. Someone withRead more about The Dynamic of Knowledge[…]
Path of Action: Day 23 Most Westerners think of the Buddhist path as centering on meditation, but sitting on a cushion is not the only practice that leads to enlightenment. Dedicated action, as expressed in the six paramitas, is also essential. In our community, we act to educate, to preserve, and to promote knowledge. WeRead more about Following the Path of Action[…]
Path of Action: Day 22 Learning to be alert in this way is a sign of progress on the path. It is definitely challenging, but facing and overcoming that challenge is a good test. If you can succeed at this stage, you will find later on that you are able to control emotional habits andRead more about Rely on Alertness More than Planning[…]
Path of Action: Day 19 The work we do lets us manifest body, mind, and spirit in ways that support making spiritual progress. To take full advantage of this great opportunity, we must put into place structures that support success. At one level this means developing the skills associated with success, such as leadership, administrativeRead more about The Path for Spiritual Progress Starts with Awareness[…]
Path of Action: Day 18 Most people think of dedication in a fairly casual way. They make a commitment, and then they dedicate themselves to meeting their commitment. But after a while, they may change their minds, or give up when they encounter obstacles, or get distracted by something else. Until the mind is reallyRead more about Points to Practice: Dedication as the Key to Focusing the Mind[…]
Path of Action: Day 17 We all have access to the tools of wisdom, mindfulness, determination, perseverance, and concentration. Apply them now and whenever difficulties arise. Challenge yourself to develop better thoughts, better attitudes, better knowledge. Dedicate your efforts and work steadily toward goodness. Look up, not down; look for inspiration to great heroes ofRead more about The Three Principles: Combining Dedication with Intention and Contemplation[…]
Path of Action: Day 16 The selfish, narrow view that leads to poverty mind loses its hold when you remember and appreciate your good fortune in being able to do work you care about. If you sense a tension in the eyes or a feeling of constriction in the head, look for the thoughts thatRead more about From Appreciation to Dedication[…]
Path of Action: Day 13 Contemplation gives us the strength to fight back against negativity and emotionality. The basic rule is clear: Practice what is positive, and your actions will produce positive results. Before you traumatize yourself emotionally one more time, you need to act on this knowledge—to turn toward goodness by relying on theRead more about Strength through Contemplation[…]
Path of Action: Day 11 To encourage yourself to develop contemplation, concentration, and discipline, reflect on how without them the mind gets caught in its own scenarios, and how painful this can be. When contemplation has not been developed, we usually react to obstacles with excuses or emotionality. Voices may begin to sound in ourRead more about Destructive Patterns of Mind[…]
Path of Action: Day 10 The time to put contemplation into practice is at the very beginning. If obstacles arise at the outset, the focus is lost, and the project may never recover. So prepare well, planning methodically and in detail. If you consistently find that you make mistakes in planning or preparation at theRead more about Putting Contemplation into Practice[…]