Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. - Buddha ...

By Eb Schmidt

I am writing this article because of my past involvement with EnlightenNext and Andrew Cohen.  Although I left the inner core of students a few years ago, I was part of the evolution of Cohen’s teachings and organization for more than 10 years. When I heard that some of his former students were speaking out publicly in a negative way about their time as Andrew’s students, I felt compelled to share my own experience. I want to tell my story not only because  I feel  that  a number of ex-students have misrepresented and even distorted the facts of their time with Andrew, but also  because I feel strongly that they have betrayed their own experience with a Teacher whom they chose freely. I also believe that they are tearing down a possibility and potential that they themselves freely gave their lives to, had experienced deeply, and then later denied. 

…this Eastern New Year’s letter comes via our friend Peter McEwen. ~ ed.
Hi all,
Wanted to share Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s Losar letter, in case you missed it.
The letter contains one of the most concise descriptions of meditation I have recently read. Best wishes to everyone!

Happy Losar, friends, students and fellow meditators!
I am at my monastery on [...]

I had a few misgivings for awhile about the post I made yesterday, but then realized that even a somewhat flawed, incomplete commentary about race that gets people talking is better than nothing. And really, like anyone else, anything I can offer will be incomplete.

One of the commenters, Flying Pig (gotta love that name), brought up some issues I would like to address further.

In response to a dharma talk she listened to by Noah Levine on MLK day, Lori Pierce over at Urban Refuge had an excellent, and challenging post about white Buddhist teachers and discussions of race. It seems to me this could easily apply to blogging, and I have personally experienced how difficult it is to blog about race and religion effectively and honestly. Just the mention of phrases like "white privilege" can set people off in hard to handle ways.

I personally feel that Buddhist practice isn't worth too much if it doesn't help us address deeply damaging social issues. Clearly, anyone who reads my blog regularly can see that. We have to address the personal and the collective, even if in the end, it's only in tiny ways.

February 12 620 PM SF Buddhism Examiner Stephen Colgan ... Get alerts when there is a new article from the SF Buddhism Examiner Read Examinercom's terms of ...

(Cross Posted at The Reformed Buddhist)

(This story is about a week old from when i wrote it.)

So we are digging out, 21' inches and it's still piling up.

Due to the blizzard, I stayed at a hotel in downtown DC last night so I could report to work this morning on time. Lucky me, I was put on the backside of the hotel which was right across the street from 'Frat Row' of George Washington University. I think with all honesty I can say mixing a Friday night, college kids, booze and a blizzard together is one of the least conducive conditions for getting any amount of sleep.

But they weren't the reason I wasn't able to get to sleep, apparently at around 11:30 some guy got blocked into his parking space by a couple other cars and out of frustration starting beeping his horn...over...and over....and over. At first I thought it was a car alarm, but quickly I noticed the pattern shifting, so I called the front desk to see if they knew anything about this car horn. They told me due to the blizzard the cops weren't going to come out just because of an angry guy beeping his horn.

A great article at Tricycle from my favorite Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron. This an excerpt from her new book, Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears. She gives some good info here on tonglen, one my the primary compassion practices.

Unlimited Friendliness

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Three steps to genuine compassion

By Pema Chödrön

Happy Chocolate-Eating Holiday!  Let the Eating Commence — Release the Chocolate Hearts!

From my heart and kitchen to yours.  Learn how to make your very own homemade organic chocolates.
xoxoxo

When Kathryn isn’t eating chocolate (which is rare) she is a lover and teacher of yoga by day, a wizard in the kitchen by dinner time and a [...]