Lynn J Kelly offers another provocative message on the value of contemplating our death and preparing our legacy … rather than leave it all to chance.
Check out her message below:
If You Died Today, Would You Be Ready?
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Category Archives: Dharma Bum
Let’s Wake Up and Appreciate Our Life
Lynn J Kelly reminds us that time is shorter than we might think so it’s important to appreciate every day.
Enjoy the article (see link below) and enjoy your life.
Preparing for the Inevitable
Lynn J Kelly begins a new series on the Nine Contemplations of Atisha. Check it out for helpful guides on preparing for death. It will be time well spent.
Get Still, Stop Talking, and Put Your Hand on Your Heart
The sky in southern Michigan today looks like this today. The meteorologists say it is due to Canadian fires. The adjective, apocalyptic, is used to describe this phenomenon.
Photo by Patrick J Cole
Synchronistically, Tricycle offers a free set of three Dharma teachings today under the umbrella topic of Buddhist Advice for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed. The first teaching comes from the 2021 article entitled Overwhelmed? Pay Attention by Kimberly Brown.
Kimberly Brown’s article sums up with this brief prayer and gently encourages us to “repeat as necessary”:
“May we be free from danger, violence, and hatred. May our actions bring benefit and do no harm.”
You can check out her article here: A Practice for When You’re Overwhelmed – Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
And find the links to all three teachings here: Buddhist Advice for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Can We Take Ourselves Seriously?
Lynn J Kelly offers some perspective on Right View and Right Intention and their affects.
Check out the link below for the provocative article and let me know what you think.
Peace my friend,
Truthfulness – The Secret Is Slowing Down
Lynn J Kelly offers another helpful post on how to be truthful with the help of mindfulness.
Check out her article below.
Is It Harder to Practice Alone?
Attended a three-day retreat last weekend and enjoyed the meditation practices with some 80 people attending. Collective energy, collective mindfulness is a palpable reality.
Below Lynn J Kelly elaborates on what a retreat might do for each of us depending upon where we are on the path.
How ’bout you? Are retreats helpful for your practice?
The Tears of Things
I’m feeling sad today – how ’bout you?
Richard Rohr, in his book published last year (see book cover below), says it so well:
“There is an inherent sadness and tragedy in almost all situations: in our relationships, our mistakes, our failures large and small, and even our victories. We must develop a very real empathy for this reality, knowing that we cannot fully fix things, entirely change them, or make them to our liking …. all things have tears and all things deserve tears.” p.4 of The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr (c) 2025.
Fortunately, I’m also recalling the Buddha’s metta (loving-kindness) prayer: “May we be happy … may we be well … may we be safe … may we live with ease.”
Now if I can only hold the feelings of sadness and loving-kindness simultaneously. How ’bout you?
Picture taken by author at Magnolia Grove Monastery in Batesville, MS
The Desert Catches Up with You
The book below was recommended to me by The Living School founded by Richard Rohr. The specific passage shared below the book cover is especially meaningful for me. I hope you find it helpful as well.
In the Heart of the Desert, Revised: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
Something Always Goes Awry
Lynn J Kelly provides another provocative post and this time she addresses the constant change in our lives. Some might even say “Change” is their middle name.
Hope this wisdom reminder is helpful to you today.
Life Matters 