All posts by Anushka Fernandopulle

Thomas Merton: Meditation as Air Purification

Meditation, Meditation Masters, Nature, ,

June 2012 I’m currently teaching a meditation retreat up in Santa Sabina Retreat Center in Marin w the SF Insight Community, and am reminded of my spiritual ancestor Thomas Merton since they have pictures of him around this Dominican retreat center. A well-known quote from him “I didn’t become a monk so I would suffer more, I became a monk so I could suffer more effectively”. And a less well-known quote “In the night of our technological barbarism, monks must be as trees which exist silently in the dark and by their vital presence purify the air”. Whenever you meditate, you too are performing this function!

DalaiLamaMerton

Mindful Politics?!?

Modern Life Applications, Politics, , ,

Mar 2012 I had the opportunity to meet Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio this past month, who is a US Congressman who is advocating for mindfulness as part of the solution to our nations problems. Yes, I am serious, an American politician who is embracing mindfulness! He just wrote a book called “A Mindful Nation”. Along with other mentions of mindfulness these past few months in the NYT, Psychology Today, Scientific American, and more, mindfulness seems to be emerging in mainstream discourse as a topic worthy of discussion. All aboard the mindfulness train in the 21st century!

Slavery and Your Life

Economics, Modern Life Applications, Uncategorized, ,

Jan 2012 Here’s an interesting (and intense) website that shines the light on the interconnection of our possessions and actions with the human labor that it takes to make them. Like the “carbon footprint” around the environment,  this site lets you know how much slave labor is involved in creating the conditions of your life, even if you don’t see it directly.

Trading in humans is one of the professions that is not recommended as a good way to spend your life or something to support (under “Right Livelihood”) .

Check it out.  http://slaveryfootprint.org

Generosity vs Consumerism

Consumerism, Modern Life Applications, , ,

Dec 2011 It’s hard not to notice the holiday season is upon us, which includes the full court press of consumer culture. It is great to give (and get) gifts, but also to focus on the dimension of generosity involved (as much as the stuff itself). So some reflections for the season: in what way can I be more generous in my life? (Check out this study about the importance of generosity in creating happiness, in this case, happy relationships, recently posted in the New York Times). Is there some area where I can let go of something I am unnecessarily holding onto, whether material things (like clothes I don’t need), emotional patterns (like impatience or jealousy), or the act of clinging itself? The world will be a better place because of it, as will your own heart and mind 🙂

Bearing Witness to Suffering through Protest

America, Economics, Uncategorized,

Nov 2011 Those of you who have been reading my ramblings here can guess that I am excited to see the nonviolent Occupy Wall Street movement and similar protests gathering steam around the world. (See May 2011 blog post). Some say that these movements are not clear in their purpose. To me it seems like a clear statement along the lines of the First Noble Truth: there is dukkha (strain, stress, unsatisfactoriness) in our world now, in particular in the economic realm. Some people are testifying to this with their bodies and lives by bearing witness in public space. The movement has many possibilities for helping raise awareness and catalyze change for a more wise and compassionate society. Stay tuned for the cause, the possibility of removing the cause, and the path to liberation!

Occupy Image

Waking Up As Leaders

Leadership, Modern Life Applications, ,

Oct 2011 I’m excited to be leading a retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center focused on leaders, bringing together all the strands of my work in the world. Developing self-awareness through the tools of mindfulness and compassion is an essential part of being a great and effective leader.  The retreat is called “Waking Up as Leaders: Courage and Clarity” which will be held from Jan 24-29, 2012. I recently joined the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and am glad to get a chance to offer this through the center, the first time such a thing has been done there. Come join us if it sounds right for you! Space is limited, so if you are interested, please sign up soon.

Reflections on 9-11 Anniversary

Current Events, Racism, , ,

Sept 2011 This month our country is remembering the 10th anniversary of Sept 11th and honoring all those who died in that tragedy.

“Hatred will never cease by hatred, hatred will only cease by love; this is a universal law,” said the Buddha. This statement was echoed across time and space by Gandhi and MLK Jr, suggesting that it really is a universal law!

Let’s reflect thoughtfully on these events as we mourn those who passed that day. We can also remember those of all nationalities who have been killed in related (and unrelated) wars over the past 10 years, civilian and military, and those who have been suffering from prejudice and hate crimes in the aftermath of 9-11.