It can be easy to fall into distorted channels of self-doubt and self-criticism. But, rather than trying to suppress those feelings, personal empowerment may come from acknowledging, relating, and directing them may lead to a more spacious life.
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Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg is one of the original three young Americans who traveled to India in the 1960s and ‘70s and introduced Buddhist meditation into mainstream Western culture. She is a globally renowned meditation teacher and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. Her books include Real Happiness, Lovingkindness, and most recently, Real Change: Mindfulness To Heal Ourselves and the World.
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Though she's the example many turn to for guidance on mindfulness practice, Sharon Salzberg didn't always find meditation so easy. She reflects on an early retreat in India, and what it can teach us about letting go of ideals, and having faith in what is.
When we strip away various veneers, what are we left with? Sharon Salzberg on the practice of letting go of denial and the uncomfortability of avoidance.
Finding a clear sense of being home shouldn't be sought from a desperate place. But, how is it possible to yearn without becoming lost in our deluded states of mind? Sharon Salzberg on the wise attention we possess that alchemizes delusion into wisdom.
The passage of time can seem like a dream. Sharon Salzberg looks back at enduring friendships and the journey "meditation" and "mindfulness" have taken these past 40 years in the U.S.
Recalling the harrowing experience of one of her students, Sharon Salzberg considers the Buddha's teachings on practicing intentional lovingkindness, and its power to heal both from without and within.
Actions stem from deep roots within, but how much attention do we give this inner space? A reminder that while nothing can be accomplished without action, actions in turn are made by the intentions that fuel them.
Becoming fixated on a problem at the office or an injustice to others can often lead to intense anger. But, how do we avoid the narrowness of this emotion and not let it consume us?
There's much confusion between sympathy and empathy. Our columnist tells the story of a wise elder whose suffering led her to become a model for how to have a meaningful life.
What happens when our icons are turned to rubble? Would their meaning still hold? Drawing on the Hindu tradition of ishta devata, Sharon Salzberg contemplates the Paris attacks and the Syrian refugee crisis through her favorite icon, the Statue of Liberty.
The harmful cycle of guilt can devolve into cycles of self-hatred. Guiding words on the constructive work of remorse, which can be especially powerful when directed toward forgiving ourselves.
We are genetically inclined to look for possible negative outcomes. But, does this survival mechanism serve us well in our time? Some helpful insights on not judging ourselves too harshly and creating a new sense of spaciousness within.
Too often, we confuse love with attachment. Sharon Salzberg on striking a balance between needing and a generosity of the heart — for ourselves, for all beings, for life itself.
To always be a beginner is frustrating to many of us. What if we embraced this as a choice rather than a deficiency? Sharon Salzberg on sticking it out and the right effort of beginning again.
On finding herself amidst a buzzing group of Pope Francis's admirers, Sharon Salzberg marvels at their elation at simply being in his presence — and reflects on what they can teach us about being open to receiving spiritual goodness.
What is the opposite of dukkha? Total rightness? Sharon Salzberg on the contorted postures we hold and the pain that arises out of the ungovernable nature of events in our lives.
When asked about love, people frequently use the word "need." Sharon Salzberg analyzes this intermingling and why we should find a way to disentangle them to better understanding of real need, and real love.
If kindness, especially towards ourselves, is not our habit, where will it come from? Sharon Salzberg tells of her first encounter with lovingkindness and how we use can this practice to look upon ourselves differently — and with those we most want to ignore.
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