May We Recommend: Thich Nhat Hanh on a Better Way to Live Alone

Our Appointment with Life:
Sutra on Knowing the
Better Way to Live Alone
by Thich Nhat Hanh
★★★★ 1/2

This easily accessible translation and commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh on the Sutra on Knowing the Better Way To Live Alone, is the earliest teaching of the Buddha on living fully in the present moment. "To live alone" doesn’t mean to isolate oneself from society. It means to live in mindfulness: to let go of the past and the future, and to look deeply and discover the true nature of all that is taking place in the present moment. To fully realize this is to meet our appointment with life and to experience peace, joy, and happiness this realization brings. A wonderful addition to the library of anyone interested in Buddhist studies.

"Our appointment with life is in the present moment. The place of our appointment is right here, in this very place." Thich Nhat Hanh in Our Appointment with Life

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Today’s Recommendation: The Skill of Living

The Skill of Living: The Buddha's Path
for Developing Skillful Qualities
by Peter Doobinin
★★★★ 1/2

"The Skill of Living explicates the Buddha’s path for developing the skillful qualities of generosity, ethical conduct, renunciation, truthfulness, effort, determination, discernment, lovingkindness, patience, and equanimity. These qualities are considered “skillful” because, when cultivated, they lead us to greater happiness. We build these qualities, Peter Doobinin emphasizes, by practicing skills. The Buddha taught skills. He didn’t say “practice generosity” and leave it at that. In The Skill of Living Peter shows us how to cultivate skills. Teaching the dharma, the Buddha’s path, in ...”

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Daily Insight: Mary Oliver: Have I Lived Enough?

“Have I lived enough?
Have I loved enough?
Have I considered Right Action enough,
Have I come to any conclusion?
Have I experienced happiness with sufficient gratitude?
Have I endured loneliness with grace?”

― Mary Oliver, A Thousand Mornings

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Daily Insight: Dalai Lama XIV: Lead A Good Life

“Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life. And a good life does not mean just good food, good clothes, good shelter. These are not sufficient. A good motivation is what is needed: compassion, without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their rights and human dignity.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

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Daily Insight: Kind Thoughts Every Day by Dalai Lama XIV

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”

― The Dalai Lama

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Daily Insight: Lama Surya Das on Missing Out on Life

“The past is over, and the future is unknown. We can dwell in the imagined worlds of yesterday and tomorrow if we so choose. But the more we do so, the more we miss out on life itself as it is happening, moment by moment, and the more we fail to realize who we actually are, moment by moment.”

― Lama Surya Das, The Big Questions:
A Buddhist Response to Life's Most Challenging Mysteries

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Words of Wisdom for Dec. 18, 2019: Jack Kornfield: This Is A Test

“This life is a test-it is only a test.
If it had been an actual life, you would have received further
instructions on where to go and what to do.
Remember, this life is only a test.”

― Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart:
A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life

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Words of Wisdom for Dec. 14, 2019: Dalai Lama on the One Important Point

“There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?”

― His Holiness the Dalai Lama
How to See Yourself as You Really Are

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