When We Put Down Ideas Of What

My First Book, 'radical Acceptance', Grew Out Of The Suffering Of Feeling Personally Deficient And Unworthy. Because Most Of Us Are So Quick To Turn Against Ourselves, The Teachings And Practices Of Radical Acceptance Continue As A Strong Current In 'true Refuge': Nurturing A Forgiving, Understanding Heart Is A Basic Step On The Path.

No Matter What Feeling Comes Up - Numbness, Irritability, Shame - If I Let It Arise And Play Itself Through, I Naturally Open Into Wakefulness And Care.

Somewhere In My Early Twenties I Realized I Was Pretty Constantly Monitoring Myself, Judging How I Was Always Falling Short, Whether It Was About Not Being A Good Enough Daughter Or Friend, Or My Appearance, Or Whatever. I Ended Up Becoming Involved With A Spiritual Path In The Yogic Tradition, Living In An Ashram, Doing A Very Rigorous Spiritual Practice.

We Are Waiting For The Next Moment To Contain What This Moment Does Not.

Compassion Can Be Described As Letting Ourselves Be Touched By The Vulnerability And Suffering That Is Within Ourselves And All Beings. The Full Flowering Of Compassion Also Includes Action: Not Only Do We Attune To The Presence Of Suffering, We Respond To It.