A peak experience as I understand them is a moment of heightened awareness during an activity, typically artistic, athletic or spiritual. Roger Bannister reported a peak experience during the his then record breaking four minute mile. Yesterday, at breakfast, I sat with a Tibetan Dzogchen master for satsang. At lunch I took part in a […]
Karma yoga is a devotional practice that connects us with our existence. In the mundanity of household chores such as sweeping the floor we take personal responsibility for ourselves. We make our own bed. We wash dishes. We take out the trash. It is through these actions that we develop our sense of humility. The […]
Showing up can be scary. Especially when we have a little skin in the game. The more we care, the bigger the perceived risk. Many of our little quirks, foibles and whimsy are survival strategies that we’ve cultivated to protect ourselves from being seen. To be seen invites criticism. For some, to be challenged is […]
In Tibet the birth, life and death of the yak represent the cycle of existence pretty clearly. Through the miracle of birth, many dairy products are made available by milking, sustaining human life and feeding the next generation of yak. The life of the yak is revered and celebrated. Often the yak is seen as […]
This may sound like an oxymoron for some folks, but discipline is freedom. The simplicity of this statement belies the magic of the action that follows. It’s a powerful way to achieve your goals and to optimise the quality of your life. I stole this mantra from Jocko Willink. He knows about getting things done.
I did a breath pattern analysis and workshop a couple weeks ago. It has changed everything. As a long time meditator I’ve got a naturally slow, long breath, in-one-two-out-one-two, the kind of breath that puts me three postures behind in a yoga class. Not anymore. I was essentially holding on to the breath. Using the […]
In the front zipper of my day pack there’s a little plastic hook. I use it as a memorable safe place to store my keys. Each time I turn off the engine I immediately place the keys on the hook. This simple act is bound with efficiencies. 1. I know the keys are safe, so […]
On an airplane, before we help others, we have to put on our own mask first. In ordainary life, many often choose to help others first, as a way of distracting from meeting their own needs. Self inquiry can be challenging, painful even traumatic. Embracing our shadow is hard. It’s a side of ourselves we’d […]
Reality shifts depending on your perspective. Any given situation can be turned on its head, flipped over, spun around. Truth is subjective. Attachment to your perspective is what determines the quality of your experiences. Like my grandfather and Winston Churchill used to say: “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity and an optimist sees […]
The impact of karma depends on your understanding of how things work and what you believe. It’s personal. Your experience of reality will be determined by the actions that you take. Karma will reinforce this belief system. This creates a self-fulfilling loop. Choose wisely.