Equanimity is a key teaching in Buddhist practices. Teacher and Tibetan Lama, Sogyal Rinpoche often spoke of the skill of maintaining equanimity in all situations. This is a term not often used in the West. We fly between extremes, seeking extreme emotions through the news and entertainment. But maintaining balance in emotions, in the mental…

In Nia dance class on Saturday, my instructor, Bill, emphatically said to let myself be guided by joy. Nia is a lively and powerful dance that draws from the martial arts for its moves. The body experiences joy, he said. It’s through the body, this temple that houses the Divine, that we come to learn…

Dolphins are considered a healing force and a powerful symbol by many. They were revered by sailors as dolphins would accompany ships for long distances playing in the wake of the waves. They seem to exude joy and they look as if they’re always smiling. Dolphins have become spiritual symbols because they live in water,…

Ever wonder why great architecture like Notre Dame Cathedral makes your spirit soar and bad architecture can make you feel sick? Dr. Esther Sternberg, a former member of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) says that built environments can be built to soothe and calm or unintentionally create a stress response. Dr. Sternberg is…

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