Instead of trying to find our happiness in a world of change, we take that changing world and turn it toward the changeless, look for that which is unchanging right here, right now.

Carry the statement, "Seek first to understand before being understood," throughout this week. How does this intention create a listening attitude? Experience the effect of listening on your heart, how it opens you to caring. How does your behavior change when you allow actions to flow from listening instead of making assumptions prior to the action? Watch how the phrase interrupts reactive and impulsive thinking. Do you see the potential for changing many of your relationships through this intention?

RESPECT FOR SUFFERING The suffering that arises in the practice is a noble truth, something worthy of respect. You can’t just push it away. If you’re going to end suffering you have to give it space, understand it, and approach it systematically. INTERCONNECTEDNESS Interconnectedness is not always pretty. It means that our bad actions can have endless repercussions, and that our happiness is dependent on a very fragile web. But by becoming more skillful in our actions we can turn the principle of interconnectedness into a good thing: a path to a happiness that’s truly independent. BEING STILL The quieter you are, the more you see. Being quiet is a form of doing, and sometimes it’s the most skillful thing you can do: You learn perspective and sensitivity, and you position yourself in the best spot to recognize insight when it arises. THE WORLD IS SWEPT AWAY Instead of trying to find our happiness in a world of change, we take that changing world and turn it toward the changeless, look for that which is unchanging right here, right now. THE THREE CHARACTERISTICS The teaching on the Three Characteristics is meant to liberate the mind from unnecessary burdens. The normal mind shadows everything that happens, but as you bring the mind to every more subtle levels of stillness and ease, you can detect ever more subtle levels of inconstancy and stress, and so naturally let them go. FIVE TALKS ON ONE CASSETTE OR CD

The direct experience of the truth of change at ever-deepening levels re-aligns our relationship with the world and enables us to let be and let go.

Through the practice of equanimity we are able to face the changing conditions of our lives with balance, spaciousness and great care.

Change is the fabric of life; its very essence. How often do we forget, ignore, or distract ourselves from this natural truth and then suffer the consequences? Clearly seeing and accepting impermanence is truly the acceptance of life.

Change is the fabric of life; it's very essence. How often do we forget, ignore or distract ourselves from this natural truth and then suffer the consequence? Clearly seeing and accepting impermanence is truly the acceptance of life.

Allowing the reality of impermanence; the play of ceaseless change, to pervade our consciousness and influence the way we live our lives.

Why do people go on intensive silent retreats? What is the process one goes through and how does it change us? This talk explores understanding how the retreat experience works?