Just come into stillness. Have your intention be to relax with the breath. That will begin to set in motion a habit that will start to train the mind.

When we see the secret beauty of anyone, including ourselves, we see past our judgment and fear into the core of who we truly are - not an entrapped self but the radiance of goodness.

The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor. In fact, the very notion of a self who is trying to free her/ himself is a delusion. We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness.

There are some things we can't choose, but in being present we can choose how we want to relate to them

We can find true refuge within our own hearts and minds-right here, right now, in the midst of our moment-to-momen t lives.

Whatever you encounter, may that be part of the path.

But this revolutionary act of treating ourselves tenderly can begin to undo the aversive messages of a lifetime.