Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the eighth of the Ten Perfections: Determination and Resolve.
You'll learn the importance of having clear goals and developing the grit, endurance and balance to stay the course.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the 7th of the Ten Perfections: Honesty and Truthfulness.
You'll learn about the search for truth, the recognition of truth, how to attune to truth and some guidelines for speaking the truth in difficult situations.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the sixth of the Ten Perfections: Tolerance and Forbearance.
You'll learn about the power of refraining from hurting those who have hurt you, how to cope with the suffering you have to endure, how to develop confidence in the ultimate truth and how to be more aware of the the 'near-enemies' of tolerance.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
After many weeks of wing-flapping and hopping around, the adolescent eagle and parents have moved on.
This is the last shot I have of them. It looks like a surly teenager in this shot.
It’s been three days since I’ve seen them around.
The first time I paddled up toward the nest with no activity churned up a mixed palette of feelings.
Every since the eagles started building their nest in the fall I’ve had an almost daily relationship with them.
It must be a little bit like when a kid goes off to college … sweet sadness, a little pride and kvelling for what a great job they did.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the fifth of the Ten Perfections: Energy and Vitality.
You'll explore the importance of understanding the limited time and energy you have in this life and how to assess and manage your energy in a way that creates a 'virtuous cycle' of well-being.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
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please signup here.
It's a muddy vortex of whirlpools, floating trees and unrelenting current. Ducks, geese, mergansers and cormorants have left for calmer waters. Due to the morning gloom I've missed the seasonal images of pollen-laden air backlit by the sunrise.
Nature is, if nothing else, an improvisor.
The flowers are heavy with color, the green of things is as green as it ever could be and the frogs, peepers and snakes look happy as the bogs have expanded their territory. The other day on a hike a monster snapping turtle saw us, turned with surprising speed, and slid back into the muck.
I'm exploring a set of classic teachings I've not payed a lot of attention to before: "The Ten Perfections." If there ever was a list that looked like it was customized for ruthless self-judgement and a feeling of eternally falling short, it would be this one.
Perfection? What does that even mean?
I've come to see how when you cultivate these qualities they shine like the polished facets of a gem. Rather than the 'thou shalt not' perspective, you can view these as descriptions of a fully integrated and thriving life.
Here's the list: * Generosity and Giving of Oneself
* Morality and Life-Supporting Conduct
* Renunciation and Letting Go of What is Not Needed
* Wisdom and Insight
* Energy and Vigor
* Patience and Tolerance
* Honesty and Truthfulness
* Determination and Resolution
* Loving Kindness and Empathy
* Equanimity and Serenity Swami Kripalu spoke about how inter-related these observances can be. Like a string of beads, if you pick up one bead, the others naturally follow. When you look at these more closely, you can see how interdependent they are.
If you cultivate generosity, you'll naturally find your conduct toward yourself and others more life-affirming.
If you let go of what's not truly needed, you'll naturally be less distracted and see more clearly into the nature of reality.
If you'd like to catch any of these talks, here's what I've got so far on both my podcast and on youtube:
1. How to Cultivate a More Generous Heart
2. How to Align Your Actions with Your Goals
3. How to Let Go of What's Not Aligned with Your Heart
4. How to Cultivate Wisdom and Insight
When someone tells me their relationship is ending I can't help but ask "When did you know it wasn't going to work out?"
I'm no longer surprised when people say, "I had a feeling at the beginning."
How many times have you ignored your sense of what is best for you? How many times have you agonized over a decision, torn by all your options and the opinionated voices in your head? How many times have you wondered what your life would look like if it was less driven by fear?
If you are interested in exploring and developing the relationship between meditation and intuition in your life, this five-day residential program in the Berkshire Mountains is a blend of inner-focused practices with being in the community of our retreat as well as the Kripalu community.
At Kripalu you'll enjoy wonderful people, amazing food and a smorgasbord of supportive activities ranging from talented hands on healers to yoga and dance classes, swimming in the lake and hiking.
This topic has been a passion of mine for decades. I always look forward to this retreat and love sharing the discoveries and insights that come from sincere, focused inquiry in a safe and supportive environment.
If this feels like a match for you, I hope you can join me in connecting your capacity to 'see clearly' with a deep dive into the most important questions in your life. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me.
For more information and to register.
The flooded river means I was a landlubber this month.
A snapping turtle heads back to the primordial ooze.
The eaglet is now a juvenile and about ready to launch.
Tripped out fern.
Tripped out Persimmon flowers.
Tripped out Coleus.
Peony about to explode.
Exploded Peony.
More rain in the forecast.
Here's a short overview of The Still, Small Voice Within retreat in July.
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please signup here.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the fourth of the Ten Perfections: Wisdom and Insight.
You'll learn about the qualities of a wise person, what gets in the way of wisdom, how to cultivate greater wisdom and insight in your life and the delicate balance of wisdom and compassion.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
As I was uploading last week’s talk I noticed the podcast has been dowloaded over 700,000 times.
I’m grateful to the technology that helps get these talks out there and to those who listen, comment and offer donations, thank you!
The technology hub:
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the third of the Ten Perfections: Renunciation.
You'll learn the importance of goals and the challenge of distractions, what it means to simplify and live your life aligned with what you most want.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the second of the Ten Perfections: Virtue and Ethical Conduct.
You'll explore the importance of having clear goals in life and using ruthless and honest self-assessment to ensure what you are doing is fully aligned with the outcome you seek.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
This week I gave a talk on 'sila,' the ethical guidelines for practitioners.
While most ethical guidelines are variation of "Thou Shalt Not," I wanted to offer this beautiful re-working of the five precepts from Tech That Han.
These are in regard to:
1. Abstaining from killing 2. Abstaining from taking what is not freely given 3. Abstaining from sexual misconduct 4. Abstaining from lying 5. Abstaining from intoxicants
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world.
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and reverse the process of global warming.
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made known to my family and friends. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness – which are the four basic elements of true love – for my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness. I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books, and conversations. I will practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or other suffering by losing myself in consumption. I will contemplate interbeing and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the Earth. iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
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Last fall a pair of eagles decided to make their home nearby on an island on the Potomac River.
I got to watch them build their nest, tend their eggs and just the other day, got a first look at their offspring, a healthy, curious and lively eaglet.
We've got babies everywhere these days.
Despite the struggles in our culture right now, it's helpful to remember that not only does life go on, but there is a freshness and openess that comes when we embrace the here and now.
"I can't sit still when I meditate!," Sarah complained. "It's like you described it... my mind is like a caffeinated chipmunk! How can I meditate when my mind is on fire like this?"
There's a classic line that says, "Enlightenment is an accident. Meditation makes you accident-prone."
You can't make 'enlightenment' happen. But you can create the most optimal environment possible.
If you've got a lot of tension and stress in your life, you may find some active, mindful movement is the best way to prepare your mind for meditation and the subtle art of 'non-judging awareness.'
Movement helps you release the deep-seated tensions in your body. When you contact the places inside where you feel tightness, congestion, stagnation and enervation you can notice them and breathe, relax, watch and allow. Chances are you may feel some of those sensations start to shift, change, diffuse or soften.
Have you noticed your meditation feels deeper after you exercise or do some yoga? Your body has probably dumped some serious tension and has allowed you to feel more calm and centered.
When I'm keyed up, anxious or stressed and have, say, half an hour to practice, I may take ten or fifteen minutes to move mindfully. Then when I sit, I feel more present, less at war with my mind.
And more 'accident-prone.'
If you live in the DC area and would like to explore how to balance movement, meditation and relaxation in your life, you might like to check out a daylong retreat I'm offering on May 13th.
It's called "A Meditative Journey: Mindful Movement, Meditation and Deep Relaxation"
I learned something about generosity the other day.
My friend Tony and I went out for dinner at the Waterfront in Washington, DC. I had just given a talk to a gathering of business professionals interested in meditation.
We found a Chinese restaurant where I felt sure I could find something vegan.
While we had a great time hanging out, my plate of vegetarian Pad Thai was not only meager, but tasted like something you'd dump into a bowl dry and then add hot water. I counted three pieces of vegetable and roughly four crushed peanuts.
Tony's dish was a little bigger than my fist and looked unremarkable on all counts.
No drinks. No side-dishes. No dessert. $60.00.
$30.00 for a dish that cost about $2.98?
First I was incensed. Then I was resentful.
When pen in hand, perusing this outrageous bill, I paused, pondering the tip.
Wait a minute. The serving staff did a fine job. They'd taken our order on time, didn't mess it up, checked back a few times to ensure we were OK.
Was I going to punish these people for these rip-off prices?
Years ago, inspired by some cool people in my life, I decided I wanted to be a generous person. A well-wisher of all.
One place I could practice that was in tipping. I always erred on the side of generosity and noticed not only no ill effect, but three things:
1. Pleasure at the anticipation of being generous.
2. Pleasure at being generous.
3. Pleasure on the reflection of being generous.
I ended up giving a big tip and in retrospect, I'm grateful the servers didn't have to bear the brunt of my anger. Does that mean I'd go back to that restaurant? No. That I'd tell others to go? No. That I might write up an honest review? Yes.
Being generous does not mean condoning bad behavior. It doesn't mean not standing up to bullies and injustice. It does mean you 'look for the good,' as my friend James Baraz says.
The practice of generosity means that you move from a self-centered person to new possibilities. I recently gave a talk called "How to Cultivate a Generous Heart," the first of ten talks on the "Ten Perfections." You can catch it here on iTunes, here on the web and here on youtube.
Other recent talks this month:
Making It Happen vs. Letting It Happen
How to Be with Sickness and Pain
Last fall, two eagles started ferrying in nest supplies.
They worked hard and fast putting together their new home. The nest is now the size of a small car.
The first sighting of our new neighbor.
The bluebells were stunning this year. Acres and acres.
Big morning sky over the Stockbridge Bowl in Western MA.
The Great Blues have staked out their turf.
Fresh chlorophyll in the morning light.
Here’s a little introduction to the "Meditative Journey" retreat I’m leading this month.
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iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
We're settling in for seven days of silence and intensive practice here at Pearlstone Retreat Center. Over 100 participants giving it their all.
A few images on arrival:
All the sessions begin and end with the ringing of bells so participants can relax and follow the flow of the day without watching the clock. A pause in the bell-ringer orientation.
When you're on retreat you take part in two group meetings and have one 1:1 with a teacher. Other than this, you're immersed in silence. Heaven for some, hell for others. My interview room.
The 'campus' here is on 160 acres and includes a farm with goats, sheep, chickens and gardens. A moment of zen on a hike.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the first of the "Ten Perfections," on generosity.
You'll learn what the Buddha taught about generosity, how the practice can dramatically impact your consciousness, the key to completing the cycle of generosity and a reflection how you might personally embrace the practice.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
I do regular visits to the eagle’s nest, ether paddling under the sycamore or hiking along the river.
I’m struck by the diligence of the parents.
One watches carefully, making adjustments in the nest, always present to their safety.
Now that the eaglets are a bit stronger and bigger, sometimes one parent will perch nearby while the other hunts.
I’m eager to see how they engineer first flight for the eaglets.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
I’m just back from Kripalu Center and the Energy Intensive - and a wonderful gathering of like-minded folks.
One of the features of the retreat is doing some intensive breathwork that can be quite transformative.
Participant lie down and do ‘circular breathing,’ with full inhalations and deeply relaxing exhalations. They are supported by a breath work 'coach' as they go through their journey.
Many reported powerful and even mystical experiences.
Big New England Sky
The day after we had a great conversation about what actually happened during the breath work session.
A Pulmonary specialist suggested some of the symptoms could be explained this way: Hypocarbia -- exhale blows out CO2 and shifts PH of blood, producing acute respiratory alkelosis Dehydration -- increased breathing eliminates water and body heat Blood pressure drops, which also lowers body temperature Hypoglycemia and hypobelimio-- low blood sugar and low potassium from eating lightly
All this may be true. Yet there was an almost universal sense of powerful releases of deep-seated tensions and profound shifts in brainwaves states that set the stage for insights and new possibilities.
The fusion of science and ‘spiritual’ practice has brought forth not only a deepening understanding of how the brain works, but has also helped establish these practices in mainstream culture. The Marines now practice meditation, it’s part of school curriculum and ‘best practices’ for many corporations wanting their staff to be both happy and productive.
I’m eager to learn more how shifts in consciousness happen and this mystery of the mind/body connection.
"Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light‐years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”
― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the differences between the practices of willful effort and conscious surrender.
You'll learn about skillful and unskillful strategies as well as suggestions as to how you can find your personal point of balance between doing and being.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
