Blog
Welcome to the Infinite Smile Blog. We’ve set up shop at Substack.
Look At That Story
If you're finding that the stories you tell yourself are limiting your experience, Leslie Gossett's piece at Shambhala Sun Space is worth a read: If only I had done this If only I had the strength to do If I could just stop buying into my storyline, then I could...
Why is it easier to come out as gay than to come out as a Buddhist?
Commuter Zen #90
To Our Muslim Brothers and Sisters
In the service of a conscious evolution of interfaith dialog, here's Danny Fisher's open letter on Islamophobia. July 31, 2012 San Francisco, CA USA -- As disciples of the Buddha who live in the West, we would like to take the holy month of Ramadan as an opportunity...
Dialogs With My Teacher #55
January 10, 2011 (#55) Student: What is the most enlightened way to communicate with someone who is very difficult? Michael: The same way Ive suggested that you speak to someone who complains a lot; listen deeply and speak from a place of open generosity. Student:...
Bill Clinton: Meditator.
While I'm happy for the former presidents choice, I can't help but wonder how a meditation practice might have affected his choices during his presidency. ...in his latest bid to improve his well-being, the Democrat has hired his own personal Buddhist monk to help him...
Dialogs With My Teacher #54
January 6, 2011 (#54) Student: If there is no self, who sets goals and where do these goals come from? Michael: Goals arise just as all else arises: from Emptiness. They also eventually die back into Emptiness. This basic rule applies to everything, including the self...
Dialogs With My Teacher #53
January 4, 2011 (#53) Student: Can you explain what you mean when you say that our spiritual transition can get ugly when glimpses of the Infinite start to show up? Michael: When the egoic you, or small self, sees that the Infinite You, or Big Self, exists, things can...
Buddhism in the US Surges
This near doubling in the number of self-identified, US Buddhists since 2007 is interesting: A new study by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life estimates that between 1 and 1.3 percent of the United States populationbetween 3 and 4 million peopleidentifies as...
When spiritual practice deepens, do heart and mind open the same way?
Commuter Zen #89
Dialogs With My Teacher #52
December 28, 2010 (#52) Student: What is the difference between knowing and believing? Michael: Both are activities of the mind that can be useful. If, for instance, you know something, you generally have some kind of evidence to back up your mental position. With...