VISUALIZATION

We tried a visualization meditation last night that involved touching each of the four fingers to the thumb with each new thought and being aware of your breathing between each thought. Try this:

1. Touching your index finger to your thumb, remember a time when you were in a very beautiful place.....Breathe....
2. Touching your middle finger to your thumb, remember a time when someone gave you a compliment....Breathe....
3. Touching your ring finger to your thumb, remember a time when you heard and felt the words, "I love you."...Breathe....
4. Touching your pinky to your thumb, remember a time when you were exhausted from a healthy physical activity....Breathe....

CENTERING PRAYER

Tonight we tried centering prayer as our method of meditation. Here's a way to approach centering prayer:
1. Choose a word that is sacred or meaningful to you.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly, and silently introduce this word.
3. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes. (Click here for more on how-to.)

Here's what Thomas Keating says about Centering Prayer in Open Mind, Open Heart. (He talks about it from a Christian perspective, but you can bring this approach to any form of meditation and substitute words wherever you feel comfortable.):

"The root of prayer is interior silence. We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words. But this is only one expression. Deep prayer is the laying aside of thoughts. It is the opening of mind and heart, body and feelings--our whole being--to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond words, thoughts, and emotions. We do not resist them or suppress them. We accept them as they are and go beyond them, not by effort, but by letting them all go by. We open our awareness to the Ultimate Mystery whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing--closer than consciousness itself. The Ultimate Mystery is the ground in which our being is rooted, the Source from whom our life emerges at every moment."

THE TEA CEREMONY

Beliefnet has some interesting thoughts on "the healing power of tea." Like this one:

Green tea is considered a "pure" tea, meaning it doesn't undergo an oxidation process. Most green teas are grown in Japan or China. Its health benefits are manifold. Although green tea naturally contains caffeine, one mug's worth contains less than a fourth as much as the average cup of coffee. For people trying to cut their caffeine consumption, switching from coffee to green tea is a very healthy alternative. Scientists have shown a correlation between green tea consumption and reduced cancer risk, weight loss, and improved heart health. Green tea also possesses a small amount of natural fluoride, an element which strengthens bones. And anyone who has ever had a sore throat can definitely attest to the soothing power of green tea with honey in it.

Here's what Thich Nhat Hanh says about tea meditation:

Tea meditation is a practice. It is a practice to help us be free. If you are still bound and haunted by the past, if you are still afraid of the future, if you are carried away by your projects, your fear, you anxiety, and your anger, you are not a free person. You are not fully present in the here and the now, so life is not really available to you…In order to be really alive, in order to touch life deeply, you have to become a free person. Cultivating mindfulness can help you to be free…When you drink tea in mindfulness, your body and your mind are perfectly united. You are real, and the tea you drink also becomes real…..This is genuine tea drinking.”

WHAT KIND OF WELL IS IT?

A man dug a well by the side of a road. For years afterward, grateful travelers talked of the Wonderful Well. But one night a man fell into it and drowned. After that, people avoided the Dreadful Well. Later it was discovered that the victim was a drunken thief who had left the road to avoid being captured by the night patrol--only to fall into the Justice-Dispensing Well. (a Chinese story found in Benjamin Hoff's The Te of Piglet)

ANGEL RIDE BRINGS JOY TO SICK CHILDREN

Starting in the New Year, I will donate any offerings or honorariums I receive for weddings, joinings, funerals, and pet memorials to the Angel Ride. Angel Ride is a cycling even held every year to raise funds for The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps.

I have done this in the past, but this year I will be more open to doing a few more speaking engagements and retreats so that I can raise consciousness of and support for this organization

The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps encompasses the world's largest family of camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions. To date, more than 114,000 children with serious illnesses from all 50 states and 32 countries have attended these camps free of charge.

The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps is a not-for-profit organization totally supported by charitable contributions. Hole in the Wall Camps are the dream of actor Paul Newman, who started the first camp in 1988, and has been the driving force ever since.

Please click here if you would like to make a direct contribution.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6: TEA AND ORIGAMI

Join me Sunday, January 6, at 2 p.m. at the Woodbury (Connecticut) public library for a tea meditation that I will lead followed by origami instruction with Sandy Carlson. This is billed as a family event, so all are welcome. There is no charge. Click here for directions to the library.

A NEW YEAR'S BLESSING

I am so lucky to get to meet so many people who "have faith in themselves."

May all beings in the New Year find faith and happiness in who they know they are and throw off superstitions of the past.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE END OF LIFE

Every day I have conversations with folks about end of life. Some are concerned about loved ones or pets, some about themselves. I feel it such an honor to be part of such discussions. I think there will be an upcoming retreat about this subject in the New Year.

WITH A FEW FRIENDS AT HANUKKAH

SCOOTER HAS BUDDHISM IN HAND

Today Annie Carroll and her friends came to Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple to film a video for children that will teach them about Buddhism. The guest of honor was a sock puppet named Scooter, who came from Outer Space via his film buddies in New York. The video will be broadcast on the Internet in February. It was a great day with some great friends, and I'll be back to tell you when and where you can see how much fun we had! Meanwhile, though, there are three video clips of me and Scooter at work at the temple in the YouTube player at the top of this page.