Infinite Smile Sangha
Summary: The Zen-inspired teachings of Michael McAlister are currently reaching a global audience. His non-dogmatic, accessible, and often amusing style of teaching work to inspire the hearts and minds of his students. And, fortunately, there is usually a little laughter along the way.
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- Artist: Michael McAlister
- Copyright: The Infinite Smile Sangha, Inc. (c) 2010
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"Enlightenment is not an experience. Rather it's living from a truth that goes past any story any of us might have about what truth might be." The post Video: What Enlightenment Is NOT… appeared first on Infinite Smile Sangha.
Zen-inspired spiritual teachings for those living busy 21st century lives.
The post Video: Dealing With Guilt appeared first on Infinite Smile Sangha.
Zen-inspired spiritual teachings for those living busy 21st century lives.
Enjoy this evening's talk on how perfection shows up in the strangest ways.
This evening's talk covers a range of topics but centers around the idea that hopelessness offers us freedom. This is covered by Pema Chodron in her book, When Things Fall Apart.
Out of many, one. It’s more than just a slogan on our money. It’s also part of our Path. In this talk, Michael relates the expression to realization and practice. Tweet
In this talk, Michael discusses ways of realigning one’s approach to life from resistance to acceptance. Tweet
No person, no group and no teaching will awaken any of us unless we uncover what’s past the “pointing finger” so to speak. Ultimately, as Michael says, we have to do the work ourselves. When we’re ready to really trust the Universe and its flow, we’ll see that we are always given what we need to awaken. Tweet
The day of the Boston Marathon bombing, Michael points to how tragedy’s conjoined twin is heroism. As awful as horror can be, practice supports a simple but profound recognition that there is inspiration available everywhere in every moment. As vulnerable as we may feel, we are also given a chance to be strong. Tweet
Speaking effectively with those individuals who can’t, or won’t, listen is one of the most challenging human endeavors. Practicing constructive exchanges, with surrender, deep listening and clarity of intention, is the work. Michael points out, with an excerpt from HIS BOOK, that constructive connection is as simple as shifting one’s perspective inward so as to study our own sticking points. Knowing these, we can let go of them. At this surrendered point, effective communication has a chance to unfold. Tweet
Days after the Boston bombing, Michael offered this talk about how all of us have the capacity to cling and become unconscious. He also points out that we all have the ability to move past clinging so that we can truly “run again” by looking outside of ourselves and by looking inside. The look inside, at both our darkness and our heroic tendencies, he argues, allows for a “co-evolution” with all beings in an ever-expanding Universe. Tweet
What happens when we really stop? Really. Stop. This question can guide us into an openness that may fundamentally alter our lives. Imagine life without the sniff & scurry, the shake, rattle & roll. Imagine a life where we get past our tendency to chase our own tails. Breaking our addiction to movement, that so many of us have, helps us get past suffering… which is at the core of the Buddha’s teaching. Tweet
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Days after the Boston bombing, Michael offered this talk about how all of us have the capacity to cling and become unconscious. He also points out that we all have the ability to move past clinging so that we can truly "run again" by looking outside of ourselves and by looking inside. The look inside, at both our darkness and our heroic tendencies, he argues, allows for a "co-evolution" with all beings in an ever-expanding Universe.