Yesterday at Sukhasiddhi Foundation, we commemorated the 20-year anniversary of my completion of 3-year retreat. Though an all-encompassing undertaking, it felt like just the initial steps on a journey, a gateway to a deep connection with the lineage and a continually evolving path. Deep gratitude.

Wonderful week in retreat with the Sukhasiddhi Foundation sangha. A powerful and meaningful week of Riwo Sangchö practice, Guru Rinpoche prayers, and Green Tara practice.

My retreat teaching prep companion today.

Truly a joyous moment. A heartening blessing for us as the current administration has been unleashing our most destructive and hateful instincts on us and the world. May Pope Leo XIV inspire us to remember our kind, wise, and compassionate hearts and let that guide our actions at home and abroad.

The new painting job at the FBI Academy is disheartening. (Source: NYT) May we keep cooperativeness, fairness, leadership, compassion, diversity, integrity, stability, emotional maturity, respect, and more alive and flourishing until we, as a nation, can return to that aim.

Beautiful foggy morning.

This week, while teaching the 12 Deeds of the Buddha, the 9th Deed—subduing the maras—stood out as a relevant daily-life reminder to draw upon strength and clarity to focus on the broader context and more consequential political actions, rather than the continual flow of disturbing distractions.

If you are looking for community & personalized guidance in embodying the bodhisattva path, there are openings in the Bodhi Program; the 2nd in Sukhasiddhi Foundation’s 5 program curriculum. A new cycle of teaching material for 2025 is beginning. For more info: sukhasiddhi.org/programs/bodhi-program

Last practice session of 2024.
#duopiano #recitalprep

Solstice blessings! May the return of the light illuminate our deepest aspirations and bring them to manifestation.

Enjoying Jigme’s sweet company on this first day of the holiday break.

A pause in the storm. So in the past couple weeks the San Francisco Bay Area has evaded a tsunami and now a tornado. May our karma continue to unfold in this way! In the meantime, there’s nothing like a rainbow to offer some perspective.

The last steps of the ascent to Machig Labdrön’s cave above Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) on Election Day. Being there at that time was potent reminder of the power of charnel ground practice as we descended the mountain and heard the election results. #bhutan #pilgrimage

Election Day morning in Bhutan. Our hearts were so full. On the other side, it is a reminder of that which is indestructible despite actions that seek to destroy.