Neurodharma

Wise speech is well intended, true, beneficial, not harsh, timely, and, ideally, wanted. • Wise action avoids killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and using intoxicants. • Wise livelihood avoids commerce in weapons, human trafficking, meat, intoxicants, and poisons.

For a day, or even just an hour, use only wise speech (that is, well intended, true, beneficial, not harsh, timely, and—if possible—welcome).

“May my practice serve others” or “For the sake of all beings, may I be awake in this life.”

Pick an area of your life such as work, or something more specific such as a project. Ask yourself these questions: Are my efforts aimed at what is truly beneficial for myself and others? Am I pursuing these aims skillfully? Can I be at peace with whatever happens?

Martin Buber described two fundamental types of relationships: I-Thou and I-It.

The painful residues of events can get caught in the nets of emotional memory, but without context and perspective. The conscious mind may forget, but as Babette Rothschild wrote, the body remembers.

As soon as we make a distinction between one group and another, it’s a slippery slope to favoring “us” and looking down on “them.”

Compassion-focused meditation stimulates specific parts of the brain involved with the sense of connection, positive emotion, and reward, including the middle orbitofrontal cortex, behind where your eyebrows meet.

Very simply, compassion is wishing that beings not suffer, and kindness is wishing that they be happy.