fusing cooperation with the disfiguring demands of a racist and sexist society, choosing to be fully and freely rather than to act from “behind the veil,” these choices were made strategically and collectively to force whites in a Jim Crow society to see and confront the basic humanity—the distinct and complex individual personalities—of Black Americans. These ways of being often provoked violence from white bystanders. But in responding to this violence with mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, nonviolent demonstrators patented a method designed carefully to contrast with and transform the cruel structure of domestic American politics. In responding to such violenc... posted on Mar 23 2022 (2,623 reads)

with each other. And that is soft and kind language, but it is so robust. And it is part of the firmament that upholds what it means to be human, that is what we can have with each other. And we are failed by headlines that just demonize the other and are lazy, and where I might read a headline about myself and go: I don’t recognize myself in the language that’s being spoken about there. We are failed by that. But we are upheld by something that has a quality of deep virtues of kindness, of goodness, of curiosity, and the jostle and enjoyment of saying: Yeah, we disagree. But that curates something and in a psychological context contains something that actually is a vessel o... posted on May 18 2022 (3,199 reads)

Reynolds has designed award-winning gardens and landscapes across the globe. She is a nature activist and reformed landscape designer, because, in her words, "Everything must change. Including me." Her book, The Garden Awakening: Designs to Nurture Our Lands and Ourselves, is"a step-by-step manual to creating a garden in harmony with the life force in the earth, addressing not only what the people in charge of the land want but also asking what the land wants to become." Reynolds is also the founder of the international garden rewilding movement, 'We Are the Ark,' Ark standing for Acts of Restorative Kindness. Her groundbreaking work invites people all over t... posted on Sep 19 2022 (6,569 reads)

to be helpful, that are actually going to open the floor for more collaboration, mutual understanding, and exploration. And the default—there are many helpful intentions we can have in a conversation, but the one that I encourage people to learn as a baseline, just to come back to—is this core combination of curiosity on the one hand, the humility to really seek, to understand in a genuine way, what matters to both of us, and care, being connected to our heart, to our values for kindness and our shared vulnerability as human beings. And these are, really, the two core intentions that drive mindfulness practice: of genuine interest, curiosity, and lovingkindness, a quality of ... posted on Sep 21 2022 (3,453 reads)

no spiritual life that does not involve, does not start, intimately and inescapably, with the Earth.” The Rev. Fletcher Harper believes that he felt God while mourning his father’s death on a solo camping trip in Montana. A violent hailstorm struck one night, and he sought shelter in the lee of a rock. “At about three in the morning, I felt this deep sense of well-being,” he recalls. “I realized that I was going to be OK. I thought, ‘I can move on with my life now.’” Later in his life and career when interviewing hundreds of people from a broad spectrum of religious and non-religious backgrounds, he discovered th... posted on Nov 17 2022 (1,982 reads)

perseverance, determination and courage. Are there particular stories where your breath has just been taken away by how someone has shown up for themselves? SACHI:    There are so many! There was this one kid who was 16 years old when I entered the facility. He was charged with an attempt to murder. This was in our first year of working with children in conflict with the law. We started by just sitting in circles with them, exploring different topics like happiness, sadness, kindness -- all these different things. Then one time the children said we want to organize Teacher’s Day. So, this boy was put in charge as the dance leader. Then on the day of the event I arri... posted on Jan 9 2023 (2,472 reads)

Juxtaposed objects spark the mind to create. And what makes an "object" is all up to you:             Voices and branches,                   water and notions,                         brushstrokes and kindness . . .                         Pieces of our world, parts to combine. ... posted on Mar 6 2023 (2,520 reads)

just be in the hub. Then, when you straighten the spoke out and go to the fourth segment, that’s your relational connection.  So people you know, your spouse, your friends, your colleagues, your people who live in your community, people in your city, your state, your country, all of humanity, all living beings. Then, I presented this to Richie Davidson’s lab up in Wisconsin, they were so excited about this practice. And they said, “Well, why don’t you do lovingkindness statements?” I said, “This is just a science practice. There’s no evidence that shows that that helps.” They go, “We have the first study to show lovingkindness,... posted on Mar 10 2023 (2,383 reads)

Yes. This is a song I wrote; it's called World of Wonders and it's a kind of manifesto. Kind of this is what I think about pretty much everything. World of Wonders (piano introduction) ​Here’s a breath to help ease your breathing A song to set your songs free Here’s a voice that will just keep on singing A vision for who we could be. There is bread for all who hunger A refuge when trouble draws near Hate melting to kindness And justice eclipsing the fear....   In a world full of wonders, why couldn’t these things be true? In this world full of wonders, why wouldn’t one of them be you? ... posted on Apr 28 2023 (2,548 reads)

that lets go of what does not matter, of what is not essential. And you walk in a field of ashes, just like I was looking at ashes around me. But from this space where much is burned away, there is always the opportunity to return to something that is real—to get to the root of something. From initiation, one burns away what is not real to reveal what is real, to reveal the roots of what matters. And we all experienced that during the pandemic: The revelation of what matters—kindness, compassion, care for our fellow human beings. The realization of what shared breath really means. And from this space of what might be real, what is real, a new future, possible fu... posted on Jun 1 2023 (3,238 reads)

for you? Can you share that with me? MN: Yes. I think that the pots for me after that were more subtle for me. I mean, my way of relating and inquiring into the world has always been constant since then, but my sense of being more and more inhabiting all the things I’m learning about… I mean, more deeply inhabiting being here, there is no there, there’s only here, all that matters is relationship. You know how the Dalai Lama has famously said his religion was kindness? Well, I think mine is friendship, and living into that more and more. So the points of when my, I think, going through maybe 10 years ago a handful of deaths of people who were important ... posted on Jul 16 2023 (3,753 reads)

On February 13th, 2021, Sue passed peacefully at home. In honor of her life and legacy, we share one of her beautiful "Unconditional Love" posts here... September 7th, 2018 I was surprised and honored to be invited as a keynote speaker last month in Atlanta for an innovative national health care organization. A few years ago, my brother introduced me to his friend, the CEO of this company, via e-mail. He is a remarkable leader and writer who follows my cancer journey with kindness and support. We agreed I would focus part of the talk on the terminal cancer diagnosis and how I stay positive, even joyful, despite this challenge. I knew the team was young, and I wanted at... posted on Oct 31 2023 (54,038 reads)

see them better. But to look into the face of a person that’s having a transcendent experience. It’s quite something, and especially en masse. I find that each time I’m playing and doing a concert, I feel that I’m doing something to help rehabilitate the world, or it’s a remedy for the world in some kind of way. And I don’t mean that in a high-blown kind of way… Tippett:No, no. I know. Cave:…in fact, to me, it’s like a small act of kindness too, in the way that we all have the opportunity to do. But there is also a mysterious and transcendent element to music. Tippett:So I have to ask you — Cave:That was an incredibl... posted on Dec 6 2023 (3,319 reads)

a different perspective, particularly when caught in the clutches of self-doubt and uncertainty. During a coaching session addressing the entrepreneur’s concerns about the future, Julie asked: “If you had a friend facing a similar situation, what advice would you offer them?” The response, a profound realization, emphasized the importance of being gentle toward the self: “I would say, ‘Give yourself some grace.’”  By offering ourselves the same kindness and understanding we readily provide to others, we create space for growth. Acknowledging that progress may unfold gradually, you can short-circuit your negative thoughts right in their track... posted on Apr 3 2024 (3,863 reads)

and a multitude of beautiful possibilities daring to be born. Best of all, they don’t require you to change who you are, but to be who you are – fully, and in service to something greater.Third shift: become the people of both/andAcknowledge Country and ask your MP and Prime Minister to support the Uluru Statement.Give to causes you believe in and speak out for policy change. Avoid single use plastics and make sure your investments aren’t tied up in fossil fuels. Choose kindness and run for office, or help someone you believe in do the same. All of this takes some learning, as well as some unlearning. The economic and cultural conditioning of the last five decades ha... posted on Apr 10 2024 (1,892 reads)

than those at Sarvodaya’s private and public sector counterparts. Nonviolence, on the other hand, is a term freely adopted from Gandhian rhetoric and practice. Although the Sarvodaya way clearly rests on the principles of nonviolence, it does not endorse passivity or meekness. Rather, respect for all life is a bedrock value of this movement. In this sense, the Sarvodaya commitment to the well-being of all necessarily requires acceptance of the Buddhist principle of metta, or loving kindness — the opposite of violence. Founder Ariyaratne has been true to this value from the start. “We should not have even an iota of doubt regarding non-violence, justice and the correc... posted on Dec 31 1969 (45 reads)

Plus, I get the added bonus of feeling calmer and less stressed—a win-win. Gain some perspective Sometimes our thoughts are persistent because there is something we need to learn from them before we can let them go. Taking the time to examine our intrusive thoughts and gain perspective on them may help shift them from troubling and distracting to something more useful. Self-compassion—a combination of mindfully becoming aware of your thoughts, offering yourself words of kindness, and acknowledging that you aren’t alone in your suffering—may help. By not pushing away your thoughts, but accepting them with a compassionate attitude, you may be able to examin... posted on Jun 13 2024 (2,459 reads)