MBSR-Long Island

06/17/2023

The University of Maryland Baltimore shed light on the importance of service and therapy dogs in a special ceremony Tuesday.

10/11/2021

In the U.S., Oct. 11, 2021 is the first nation-wide “Indigenous Peoples Day,” as established by Presidential Proclamation. https://tinyurl.com/4x4a9xjb

Poet Joy Harjo speaks powerfully from the indigenous experience in the U.S. A member of the Muscogee Nation, she’s now serving her third term as U.S. Poet Laureate, the first Native American to hold that honor. https://tinyurl.com/2kbha4mp Today’s nation-wide commemoration aims to lift up and honor Native American peoples, cultures, and histories. So here’s a Harjo poem in praise of life...

The day also gives white Americans a chance to reflect on how we live our lives in a nation that was animated by democratic ideals AND by the evil of racist violence that led to genocide and slavery. Idealism and evil are still contending in this land. It’s an open question as to which one will win the next round.

At a time when white supremacist terrorism is our leading domestic threat, a former U.S. president and his enablers continue waging a campaign against the growing power of people of color—and in support of insurrectionists. This is a campaign against democracy itself. Those who wage it want to insure that an excessive share of power and wealth will remain in white hands, no matter the outcome of a democratic election. If that roils your mind and heart as it roils mine, I say good. That’s part of what a day like this is meant to do.

But now, read Harjo’s beautiful poem again. See how a poet who speaks from a history of injustice and suffering is able to transcend despair, mounting up “with wings like eagles” to gain perspective and say “we must take the utmost care/and kindness in all things.”

Those of us who care about democracy and wish to be kind to ALL of “We the People” must say a loud and clear NO to the millions who cling to the Big Lie that the 2020 election was marked by massive fraud. There is zero evidence for their claim because the Big Lie is not driven by facts. It is driven by the selfsame white supremacy that drove genocide against indigenous peoples.

A clear NO to ugly lies is the form caring and kindness must take if truth is ever to set us free. Then and only then we will walk “in beauty, in beauty.”

[“Eagle Poem” from Joy Harjo, “In Mad Love and War.” You can see all of Harjo's books at https://tinyurl.com/yty9bbza.]

10/01/2021

Living in the layers- deep thoughts onFriday morning.

“How shall we hold our losses?” That’s one of the most important questions we humans can ask. The answers we come up with can make the difference between sinking into bitterness or despair and becoming a giver of life.

I’m thinking not only about the loss of people we love and things we treasure. Lots of elders lose the capacity to do things that once brought them pleasure and served as sources of personal identity.

In my case, at age 82, it’s unlikely that I'll write another book, speak to another large audience in person, or lead another retreat—activities that helped me find meaning and purpose for more than 50 years. To say nothing of making a living.

So I’m grateful that 45 years ago, I heard someone talk about being “hallowed by our diminishments.” Those words lived on in my mind, and now I’m trying to live into their meaning.

I’d like to think that the deaths of people I love have made me more actively compassionate toward those who suffer. I’d like to think that I can still serve by writing short-form pieces instead of books, or by working with people online instead of onstage or in a retreat circle. And I’m greatly inspired by people I know who can no longer work with their hands, as they did for decades, but are now serving and finding meaning in other modes.

Maybe the most common obstacle to holding our losses well—apart from physical or mental pain—is a failure of imagination about ways to redeem them.

Sadly, some people—people who have options—allow their losses to “HOLLOW” rather than “HALLOW” them. Sometimes they try to fill their inner emptiness with things that do not serve life: substance abuse, hateful ideologies, or servile devotion to corrupt thugs in high office. We’d have a better world if we would help each other become hallowed, not hollowed.

I’ll give the last word(s) to Stanley Kunitz. He wrote this classic poem about aging when he was in his 70s, after suffering the deaths of family members and a few close friends. Kunitz died at age 100, and was hallowed by his diminishments to the end...

[All 10 of my books are at https://tinyurl.com/3ys2285c OR https://tinyurl.com/htjx6ju.]

03/20/2021

My good friend and MBSR & Taiji colleage, Laurence Magro and co-teacher Dr. Nancy Logue are teaching an online course on "Unwinding Anxiety." This excellent, evidenced-based program is appropriate for new meditators as well as for experienced practitioners.
Please contact Laurence for additional information.

08/01/2020

Naomi Shihab Nye reads her poem "Kindness" on the On Being episode "Naomi Shihab Nye — Your Life is a Poem.” Find more at www.onbeing.org/program/naomi-shihab-nye-your-life-is-a-poem/8720

07/25/2020

In our second annual focus on women leaders of mindfulness, 12 women share how their deep practice has shaped the world they see.

05/23/2020

A key element of emotional intelligence is the way you regulate your difficult emotions—But not all emotional regulation techniques are created equal.

04/28/2020

Christina is one of my all time favorite meditation teachers, maybe you would be interested in this course. Chris Cullen is excellent as well, looking forward to this.

Join our upcoming online course, starting May 18