Category Archives: Dharma Bum

Let Them … Let Me … Mel Robbins & Lynn J Kelly

Just finished my second hearing of Mel Robbins’ book The Let Them Theory (see book cover below). I found her words very helpful and familiar.

Also below is a link to another provocative blog post from Lynn J Kelly’s blog The Buddha’s Advice to Laypeople.

I highly recommend both authors and their work.

Do be, do be, do?

“The more awareness we can bring to whole situations, the more likely we are to see what’s needed, to know whether we should let things unfold without our interference or whether we have something truly helpful to offer. It’s amazing how few situations require our management.”

Once again, Lynn J. Kelly helps us understand equanimity and the importance of focusing more on being than doing.

Check it out and read the article below:

“Let’s Give It All Away”

How many times have we held on to things that will have no value for others and apparently no longer have any value for us because we’re not using them anymore? Rather than hoard, or worse yet, pay for storage for items we will no longer put to good use, why not donate them now?

Lynn J Kelly’s blogpost, You Can’t Take It With You, (see link below) is as provocative as always. It also reminds me of Paul Newman quote: “Let’s Give It All Away.” See his link at the bottom.

Let’s be minimalists. Let’s be donors. Let’s share the wealth.

Our Founder | Newman’s Own Foundation

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

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?