"Love, compassion, and tolerance are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama
This past Sunday, thousands gathered to celebrate the International Day of Peace at Lincoln Center to coincide with the opening of the U.N. General Assembly. Now that we are back to work, how can we implement and sustain real peace in our lives on a daily basis? Can we be mindful and not react to the angry neighbor or colleague? Or even hitting Reply to an email that we dislike? How about the way you speak to your staff?
Arianna Huffington's book Thrive suggests that we widen the boundaries of our caring by giving. Giving is more than a tax write-off or contributiong when the plate is in passed in church. Love, compassion and tolerance towards others is also a form of giving. Meditation can increase our mindfulness and behavior toward others and ourselves by heightening personal awareness. Thrive mentions a "2013 study by researchers from Harvard University, Northeastern University and Massachusetts General Hospital found that meditation enhances compassionate responding providing scientific credence to ancient Buddhist teachings that meditation increases spontaneous compassionate behavior."
How do we begin meditating? Many find it helpful to attend a new class or activity in a group setting. Starting this week, The Shinnyo Center for Meditation and Well-Being begins the What's Enough series in New York City. Sharon Salzberg, one of America's leading insight meditation teachers and writers, will speak and lead meditation Wednesday, September 24th at Shinyo's New York location.
The Shinnyo Center for Meditation and Well-Being initially opened as a Buddhist center in 2007. Last year, the Center began opening its doors at lunch and after work for for meditation sessions. Due to the positive response, the center has will now officially be open to all faith traditions, belief systems, and nationalities. In addition to the New York location, the Shinnyo Center for Meditation and Well-being hosts meditations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Hawaii, and Chicago.
The world often tells us we do not have enough, we are not enough. No matter how fast we run, there isn't enough time, pleasure, accomplishment, or peace to be had. Later this fall on Wednesday, October 29th, the center will examine What's Enough Success at the New York City location.
What's Enough Success will feature co-anchor of ABC's Nightline and Good Morning America Dan Harris, director of the Institute for Mindful Leadership Janice Marturano, and psychotherapist Mark Epstein. The event will be moderated by magazine writer, editor, and mindfulness teacher Amy Gross.