Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

As we return to the root of our lives we embrace all aspects, the present, the past, our time alone and precious relationships with others. This episode includes teachings from both Zen and Jewish pr…

Many of us fear change, because we experience it as loss. We do all we can to keep our world stable, secure, and as we want it to be. Most of our time is guarding against change, fighting and refusin…

We are driven by the need to be right, not wrong. And many of the conflicts in our relationships are caused by this, as well.  When a difference of any kind arises, we immediately insist that we are …

So much of our lives are filled with questions that have no answer. We go around and around in our mind trying to figure everything out. These questions about ourselves, others, what will happen, and…

No matter what's going on, how we see the event or person,  determines what they becomes to us. We can find that which is devastating about them and ties us in knots.  Or, we can let go of opposing a…

We're all looking for thrills and chills as we go through life. Our ordinary everyday life seems too simple, dull and repetetive.  To make life special we feel we have to jazz things up, create dazzl…

We live most of our lives surrounded by Dire Predictions, a snowstorm is on the way, huge winds, dangerous conditiions. And, then, before we know it, the snow has turned to light rain and the sun beg…

How many of us can really allow ourselves to really live, feel the sun, hear our neighbor, 
be present and available to all that arrives. This is actually a great art, and in order to do it, we must l…

We are always waiting for something to happen to make things right. There's usually something missing in what's going on right now. We want it to turnout differenly and won't stop until it does. Ther…

We are not aware of how much we reject life. A gap takes place before we are willing to notice, engage with and accept what's going on. Often we just block things we don't like out. Or, our initial r…

True communication comes in many forms. So often we present an image of ourselves, play a role or speak to impress, or influence. This type of interaction causes division, not only within ourselves, …

We all wish each other a Happy New Year, and mean it. But what does it mean to be truly happy?? Usually we think it includes lots of laughs and smiles, a happy face and demeanor. Certainly, it is a p…

Even though everyday is new,  we drag the old along with us wherever we go.  Then, longing for a new start, we look for it everywhere. Some move to  a new neighborhood or relationship, profession, ev…

We're always waiting for things to be fulfilled, for the job to be over,  for good news to arrive, or for our long wait to be over, for our needs to be met. As a  Zen Master saw his driven students, …

Caught in our thoughts we feel that we know what's going on, and respond accordingly. Instead of paying precious attention to what's right in front of us, our attention is caught and trapped by our e…

It's so easy to become upset when things don't work out our way. Many feel like failures, that no matter what they do, but life just proceeds as it wishes. Nothing to feel badly about. We do all we c…

We have so many expectations about what is going to happen, what needs to happen and how to manage everything. So many hours are spent planning how to navigate the twists and turns of life, to be rea…

Thanksiving is here, a yearly time to remember, thank and reach out. But this practice is so powerful and central to our well being, our lives would turn around if we took a day or two each week, (or…

Where is God when I need Him?? This cry is heard so loudly these days and during times of trouble. Let's explore the feelings of abandonment, loss and the confusion we experience as things seem to go…

So many phrases we use are routine, casual, empty comments to daily questions. For example, how are you today? How's it going? Fine, fine. Really? How's what going? Nothing has really been asked, and…