The Open Heart Project

Buddhist new year is coming up March 5, which is a lovely time for a new year to begin. It is still winter, but (for those who don’t live in New England or Minnesota) the hope of spring begins to arise.

Each Buddhist New Year is associated with a different animal and the year is said to be colored by the qualities of that animal. Whether or not you hold with such concepts, bear with me while I explain what those qualities could be in the coming year.

The year coming to an end has been the year of the Tiger. The coming year will emphasize quite different energies, those of the Iron Hare. Yes, a rabbit made of steel.

This is really good news. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty much done with fighting and territory and the laws of the jungle. I’m really, really ready for something a little cuddlier, a little fuzzier. That said, we don’t want a wimpy year, just one that is a bit more civilized.

Just in time…THE RABBIT. Perhaps above everything, this animal is associated with peacefulness. Cooperation. Harmony. The pleasures of daily life. Refinement. No undue stress. Some things that may have gone wanting in the past year, at least speaking for myself.

For this coming year, I wish for you just these uplifted qualities, peace most of all.

When you cultivate peace within yourself, you cultivate peace for this world. This is the truth.

This is the year to open your heart. This is the year to change our world and I want to help.

I’ve spent the last several months trying to figure out how exactly I might do this, and I think I’ve come up with something pretty cool. It’s very simple and involves a ton of options and encouragement to help you make meditation a part of your life, really, truly, once and for all, painlessly, plus a daily meditation or contemplation from me (well, Monday through Friday) via email.

I’ve been writing these like crazy, trying to get several months worth before I spring this on you in March. Topics range from love, leadership, creativity, and finding joy to more traditional Buddhist teachings on right speech, equanimity, and the actions of a bodhisattva (awakened being).

Does this sound like something you’d like?? I hope so. You can sign up for it here.

Stay tuned. More details in a few days.

If you have any topics you’d like me to cover, definitely drop me an email.

Here’s to a year of great joy. And remember, if we open our hearts, we can change the world.

categorized in: dharma, open heart project