When The Village Meditates

"I can compare clarity to pruning in gardening.  If you are not clear, nothing is going to happen. You have to be clear. Then you have to be confident about your vision. And after that, you just have to put a lot of work in." - Diane Von Furstenberg On this episode we're going to discuss the importance of having clarity. As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into...

“Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.”  ― Lao Zi Congrats to us! This is episode 100 so we need to celebrate this milestone with a drink or something right? Grab a glass of water or a cup of tea for this one. 

“Each time a person passes by you and you say 'hello', imagine that person turning into a candle. The more positivity, love and light you reflect, the more light is mirrored your way. Sharing beautiful hellos is the quickest way to earn spiritual brownie points. You should start seeing hellos as small declarations of faith. Every time you say hello to a stranger, your heart acknowledges over and o...

Meditation will not carry you to another world, but it will reveal the most profound and awesome dimensions of the world in which you already live. Calmly contemplating these dimensions and bringing them into the service of compassion and kindness is the right way to make rapid gains in meditation as well as in life.    Zen Master Hsing Yun

" In an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still. " - Pico Iyer On this episode we're going to look at sitting on the floor and why I prefer it over sitting on a chair or couch. As always, we will meditate for ten minutes before getting into the talk. Enjoy the show! 

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”  ― Sharon Salzberg On this episode we're going to look at the story of a stone cutter who wanted to be everything other than a stone cutter. As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the talk. Enjoy the show!

“To know yourself, you must sacrifice the illusion that you already do.” — Vironika Tugaleva On this episode we're going to discuss self-awareness and explore why we may not know ourselves as well as we think we do.  As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the topic. Enjoy the show!

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear” – Rumi On this episode we're going to simply meditate. I'll guide you through a breath awareness practice designed to increase your overall sense of calm and peace. Enjoy the show!

"The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness." - Lao Zi On this episode we're going discuss growth on a personal and spiritual level. As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the topic. Enjoy the show!

"Step outside for a while - calm your mind. It is better to hug a tree than to bang your head against a wall continually." - Rasheed Ogunlaru. On this episode we're going to look at how to not resist the thoughts, feelings and sensations that may arise within us.  As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the topic. Enjoy the show!

"The doctrine is like a finger pointing at the moon, and one must take care not to mistake the finger for the moon. Too many of us, I fear, suck the pointing finger of religion for comfort, instead of looking where it points." - Alan Watts On this episode we're going to look at look at why it's important to focus on the moon and not the finger.  As always, we will sit and meditate for ten min...

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” - Lao Tzu On this episode we're going to discuss how we can all be outside. As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the topic. Enjoy the show!

"Holding a solid grasp of many concepts or decent proficiency in multiple skills can allow for flexibility, in a life and career." - Jodie Cook On this episode we're going discuss why being a "Jack of All Trades" shouldn't be seen as an insult. As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the topic. Enjoy the show!

“We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize we only have one.” - Confucius  In light of all that's happening in the world, I felt the need to simply meditate today. So on this episode, I'll guide you through a 15-minute practice designed to get you affirming yourself rather than worrying and feeling anxious about what may happen in the future.  Enjoy the show!

“The way to live in the present is to remember that "This too shall pass." When you experience joy, remembering that "This too shall pass" helps you savor the here and now. When you experience pain and sorrow, remembering that "This too shall pass" reminds you that grief, like joy, is only temporary.” - Joey Green On this episode we're going to discuss the importance accepting the impermanent natu...

“Examination of our past is never time-wasting. Reverberations from the past provide learning rubrics for living today." -Kilroy J. Oldster   On this episode we're going to look at one of the more popular Adinkra symbols; Sankofa. As always, we will sit and meditate for ten minutes before getting into the topic. Enjoy the show!

“Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else.” -Shunryu Suzuki In popular culture, the word "zen" gets thrown away quite a bit. But what does the term actually mean? It is more than just feeling relaxed and at peace? On this episode we're going to look at the roots of Zen and see how we can incorporate its principles into our daily lives. As always, we will sit and me...

"There are too many people in America whose worthiest aspirations and contributions are brutalized daily by relentless classism, racism, and assaults on their souls for repudiating the American myth by simply existing. We need to tell their story better." - Trabian Shorters On this episode we're going to take a look at asset-framing and see how it can change the stories the tell and believe about...

"Black History Month is widely recognized as a time to draw our attention to the lives and achievements of Black people who helped build our great country. Growing up, whether it was in school or at home, I enjoyed learning about historical figures that fought against slavery and for our civil rights. Now as an adult, I understand the importance of this celebration, but I believe it should really...

“There is no way to happiness — happiness is the way.” - Thich Nhat Hanh Last Friday Thich Nhat Hanh passed away. Though he wasn't as well known as the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh's impact was just as great. On this episode we're going to celebrate his life by revisiting some of his most powerful teachings. Of course, before we get into the topic, we're going to sit and meditate for ten minutes. E...

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.” Maya Angelou What does it mean to thrive in today's world? Have you been thriving lately or just barely getting through your days? In this episode we're going to explore the concept of thriving and see how it's something we all can do. Of course, before we get...

"Imperfection and perfection go so hand in hand, and our dark and our light are so intertwined, that by trying to push the darkness or the so-called negative aspects of our life to the side... we are preventing ourselves from the fullness of life." - Jeff Bridges Is it just me or does it seem like perfection is still something that we, human beings, are obsessing over? In this episode, we'll discu...

"New year is the glittering light to brighten the dream-lined pathway of future." - Munia Khan  2021 is over, we're now in 2022. Although we're still living through a pandemic and the world is still not as loving and compassionate as it could be, it's a new year and that's worth observing. In this first episode of 2022, we're going to look at a few interesting ways some people approach the ne...

“ You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you. ” – Dan Millman It's no secret that worrying and being stressed out isn't good for our overall sense of well-being, but how many of us find ourselves going to bed and waking up with worries and stress? In this episode, I share a short story about letting go of this "extra weight" and guide you through a move...

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson It's easy to caught up in the idea that in order to make a difference we have to do something big. In this episode, I share a story to remind us all that even the little things that we do can have a profound impact on the world around us. As always, before we talk, we'll sit and med...