10 Feb Beyond Awakening Q&A – Part One

As you may be aware, when appearing on Terry Patten's Beyond Awakening Teleseminar, I offered to answer all questions from listeners. Well, be careful what you wish for, right? I've got a very long cue of questions lined up, and a hopefully patient group of inquirers. Over the next while I promise to get to all the questions, in order that they were received. Let's start with Stewart, from Paris, who asks: Q: "All others forms of life here on Earth (animals, plants) seem to be able to be in harmony/balance. What will it take for the human to also reach this harmony?"

06 Jan Benefit of Doubt

Among the people closest to you, how many can you say truly have your best interest at heart? Just one person? Two, four, more? Whatever the answer, reflect upon how often these very same people push your buttons, causing you to contract and react. Be honest””it happens to all of us, all the time. With these special individuals, however, we have a choice. We can give them the benefit of the doubt. Whenever you become aware that your buttons have been pushed, focus on the fact that the offending parties mean no harm. Perhaps they acted carelessly, or spoke harshly. Maybe a flash of anger or irritation high-jacked their communication skills. Yes, it stings. Yet this occurred out of human imperfection, not ill will.

08 Dec Self-Compassion Amid Financial Stress

Last week I launched a contest to mark the publication of my new book. Via a hidden "Easter egg" on my website cushnir.com, I asked participants to share how they are compassionate with themselves during times of great financial stress. The responses poured in and were truly inspiring. Reading through them, I was touched by the collective wisdom we share as a loose-knit, global spiritual community. I found myself to be the real winner of the contest in getting to bask in so much heartfelt, practical sharing.

25 Nov Relaunching, with Caffeine

It's been awhile since I've posted here, with my attention being diverted by podcasts and two books about to come out. But now, as I get ready to launch the new website, cushnir.com, I realized it's time to check in. In doing so, I'm presenting an interview I did last summer with Stephanie Gunning, of the wonderful free Web learning program called The Great American Think Out. To learn more about the program, click here. This interview makes me laugh because I'm so amped during it. Truth is, I had just drunk my daily matte and was huffing around the backyard, headset clinging to my ear and one year old daughter in my arms. As a result I'm much more freewheeling and unguarded than usual. I hope you enjoy it, and I promise to steer clear of caffeine at all our upcoming retreats!

06 Aug Zero Plus One

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about zero and one. They bring us more than we could ever imagine, but also a lot less. In Daniel Goleman’s fascinating book, The Meditative Mind, he suggests that all forms of meditation either boil down to zero or one. In the zero camp are those types of meditation that aim to evoke a state of emptiness, or void. In the one camp are the types of meditation that aim to create a state of unity, or (obviously) oneness. When you give those two states serious consideration, it turns out that they’re very different. In oneness everything comes together, and in emptiness everything disappears. Oneness is an experience of complete presence, and emptiness is an experience of complete absence.