Blog
Welcome to the Infinite Smile Blog. We’ve set up shop at Substack.
Caught By Our Longing For Awakening
This originally appeared in June of 2008 as "No Shortcuts" from the book, Awake in This Life. ___ I've mentioned that I began my meditation practice asking teachers if there might be a shortcut to any of this work. The answers I got all came down to what I've so often...
Cultivating A Sloppy Spirituality
I just read a piece in the Huffington Post by MeiMei Fox on how she sees much of contemporary spirituality to be lost in its own moralism. I cant say I disagree with her. Like MeiMei, I found my own journey fraught with teachers, and even entire communities, that...
Quote of the Day
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. - Erin Majors
Commuter Zen #42
What would the middle way feel like?
Book Talk
This clip comes from a book talk held over a year ago, discussing Michael's book, Awake in This Life.
On Awakened Dating
REPRISE from 3/31/2011 In the past few weeks, there have been several of our sangha members, both virtual and local, young and (dare I say) more mature, who've asked me about their deep longing for partnership. Questions surrounding how they might find true intimacy,...
Commuter Zen #41
How does mind serve awakening?
Enlightened and Enlightening Relationships
This is a reposting of an excerpt from the book, Awake in This Life, entitled "Relationships." It was first posted in May, 2008. ___ Among the richest areas for practice is relationship. Many of us, whether we are in a committed relationship or not, tend to have our...
Don’t Wobble
"In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble." ~ Yunmen Some years ago, my Zen teacher made a big deal about Yunmen's teaching of "not wobbling" or, as I have frequently termed it, "not flinching." Not allowing myself to become like those...
Quote of the Day
When one is out of touch with oneself, one cannot touch others. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh