Podcasts about compassion it

In a deeply engaging discussion on the transformative power of compassion and mindfulness, Sara Schairer, the founder of Compassion It and author of the book A Case for Compassion: What Happens When We Prioritize People and the Planet, shares her insights and experiences with us.

Psalm 51 is one of the most poignant and heartfelt penitential psalms in the Bible, attributed to David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. This psalm is a powerful expression of repentance, a plea for mercy, and a desire for renewal and purification. Here's an in-depth look at Psalm 51:Verses 1-2: Plea for MercyDavid begins by appealing to God's unfailing love and great compassion, asking for mercy and the cleansing of his sin. He acknowledges his need for God's grace and forgiveness. • Verse 1: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” • Verse 2: “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”Verses 3-6: Confession of SinDavid openly confesses his sins, recognizing their gravity and his responsibility. He acknowledges that his sins are ultimately against God, highlighting the depth of his remorse and understanding of divine justice.• Verse 3: “For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me.” • Verse 4: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” • Verse 5: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” • Verse 6: “Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.” Verses 7-9: Request for PurificationDavid seeks purification and cleansing, using vivid imagery of being washed and made whiter than snow. He longs for joy and gladness to replace his brokenness and for his sins to be blotted out. • Verse 7: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” • Verse 8: “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.” • Verse 9: “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.”Verses 10-12: Prayer for RenewalDavid prays for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. He asks God not to cast him away or take away the Holy Spirit, but to restore the joy of salvation and grant him a willing spirit to sustain him. • Verse 10: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” • Verse 11: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” • Verse 12: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”Verses 13-17: Commitment to Testimony and PraiseIn response to God's forgiveness, David commits to teaching transgressors God's ways and declaring His praise. He acknowledges that God desires a broken spirit and a contrite heart rather than sacrifices.• Verse 13: “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.” • Verse 14: “Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.” • Verse 15: “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” • Verse 16: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.” • Verse 17: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”Verses 18-19: Prayer for ZionDavid concludes with a prayer for the prosperity of Zion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, indicating his understanding of the broader implications of his sin and repentance for the community. • Verse 18: “May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.” • Verse 19: “Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.”Themes and Lessons from Psalm 511. Repentance: The psalm is a model for genuine repentance, emphasizing acknowledgement of sin, seeking forgiveness, and desiring inner transformation. 2. God's Mercy and Compassion: It highlights God's unfailing love and great compassion, offering hope that no sin is beyond God's ability to forgive. 3. Purification and Renewal: The plea for a pure heart and steadfast spirit shows the importance of inner renewal and the desire to be made right with God. 4. Importance of a Contrite Heart: The emphasis on a broken spirit and a contrite heart over ritual sacrifices underscores the value God places on genuine humility and repentance. Psalm 51 remains a powerful resource for anyone seeking forgiveness and renewal, illustrating the path from guilt to grace through heartfelt repentance and God's boundless mercy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

How do you navigate profound loss and the grief that follows?  In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Dan Tocchini, a seasoned thought leader dedicated to guiding people through the transformative process of grief and loss. Known for his work in helping leaders transform their teams, Dan takes us on an intimate journey through his personal experiences with loss and the incredible insights he's gained along the way. Throughout the conversation, Dan shares poignant moments from his life, including the loss of his grandson, mother-in-law, and other family members, and how these painful experiences shaped his approach to grief and love. Host Nicole Jansen engages with Dan on the concept of courage, the physiological impact of grief, and the vital role of community support in healing. Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Dan Tocchini as he bravely opens up about the rewards of facing fears, connecting deeply with loved ones, and finding meaning through mourning. What We Discuss in this Episode How did the death of your grandson impact your family and your ability to stay present? Can you share a pivotal moment of bonding with your daughter after experiencing loss? How do you define courage in the face of grief and long-term impact of your choices? How has reading "The Brothers Karamazov" influenced your understanding of grief and mourning? In what ways do you encourage people to seek support rather than isolating themselves during grieving? What role did your wife's openness and curiosity play in helping you navigate your grief? How do unresolved grief and sorrow manifest in physical health and relationships? Can you discuss the importance of executive coaches being equipped to handle deep emotional issues with clients? How did the loss of your grandson influence your willingness to face grief with courage and faith? What advice would you give to listeners dealing with unresolved grief and seeking healing? Podcast Highlights 0:00 – The experience of grief and mourning. 4:15 – Staying present in the pain. 8:24 – Pivotal decisions as a family after loss. 14:41 – The role of fear and long-term impacts. 19:05 - Finding and purpose and meaning through suffering. 25:18 - Avoiding isolation and misunderstanding. 28:55 – Persisting with love through self-reflection and healing. 30:02 – Equipping leaders, coaches, and society. 35:47 – Embracing courage and faith in grief. 39:40 – Healing unresolved grief. 41:45 - Support, check out Dan's website for leadership. Dive into an emotionally rich discussion with Dan Tocchini as he shares intimate details of his journey through grief, offering hope and practical advice for anyone navigating their own losses. Favorite Quotes Experiencing Grief: "When somebody dies, particularly somebody close to you where you have a loss (and it does not to be a person dying, a business could be dying; anything that you've grown accustomed to, that you love participating in), it's probably contributed to your sense of identity and community." Understanding Grief: “Embracing honesty and mourning loss transformed my relationships." On Love and Compassion: "It's about looking at loss through a lens of love, grace, and compassion, rather than allowing it to turn you bitter or cynical." Delve into this heartfelt episode as Dan Tocchini opens up about the transformative power of mourning, providing insights and encouragement for anyone dealing with grief. Episode Show Notes: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/spirituality/496-grieving-with-love-a-journey-of-healing-with-dan-tocchini    Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com ________

Today, I'm joined by Sara Shairer, and we're talking about Inspiring Compassionate Leadership. Sara is the founder and executive director of COMPASSION IT, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire daily compassionate actions and attitudes. She is a Stanford-certified instructor of Compassion Cultivation Training and has taught at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness, Kaiser Permanente, the Naval Medical Center, and in Africa. She is actively working with businesses to develop more compassionate workplaces. She is the author of a new book called A Case for Compassion: What Happens When We Prioritize People and the Planet. I'm excited to have her on the show to talk about Inspiring Compassionate Leadership. Show resources: Compassion It Website A Case for Compassion: What Happens When We Prioritize People and the Planet Book Sponsors: Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series Ignite Management Services Liberty Strength  ____ Get all Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jenn received her PhD in Sociology, specializing in gender role socialization, sexuality, and marriage. She integrates this macro-level lens for understanding human patterns and behavior into her 15-year private practice as a mindful intimacy coach and executive relationship coach. And all of this informs her speaking around the world on mindful intimacy, sexual consent, effective communication, healthy relationships, body image, erotic play, and women's empowerment. She has presented two TEDx Talks, is a writer on sex and relationships, and a recurring intimacy expert on the San Diego morning news. Dr. Jenn is also an active philanthropist with Women Give San Diego and the Compassion It nonprofit, was the founder of World Sexual Health Day--San Diego, and was on the executive team for Sex Positive San Diego. Her In the Den with Dr. Jenn educational video series has 1.7 million hits on YouTube, and she is a sex expert in the masturbation documentary, called Sticky: A (Self) Love Story. Dr. Jenn has collaborated on projects with Planned Parenthood, the Global YPO Spouse/Partner Network, Erica Lust films, and Dr. Ruth's Sex for Dummies book. She has been interviewed by publications including USA Today, The Washington Post, Cosmo, The Sunday Times (London), Oprah Daily, Men's Health, Playboy, Marie Claire, Madame Figaro (France), and Shape. She has spoken at Stanford, Syracuse, University of South Carolina, Miami University of Ohio, Lehigh University, UC San Diego, Arkansas Tech, Sharp Hospital, Rancho La Puerta, YPOs, EOs, and many more schools and organizations. Listen to this insightful Whinypaluza episode with Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus about achieving healthy sexual empowerment for women. Here is what to expect on this week's show: Dr. Jenn's passion for creating safe spaces for others to be vulnerable and feel comfortable in their bodies. Empowerment means the freedom to make better choices for ourselves. Normalizing speaking up for yourself if you are unsatisfied in your intimate relationship. Defining “sex positive” to create a healthy sexuality. Releasing shame around sexuality. How past emotional trauma, or present upsets can physically manifest inside you. How do you effect lasting change in habits? Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website Twitter Instagram  Facebook LinkedIn Follow Rebecca Greene Blog  https://www.whinypaluza.com/ Book  https://bit.ly/WhinypaluzaBook Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/whinypaluzaparenting Instagram https://www.instagram.com/becgreene5/ @becgreene5 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@whinypaluzamom?lang=en @whinypaluzamom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I sat down with Sara Schairer who is founder of the nonprofit Compassion-It and a certified teacher of the Compassion Cultivation Training Program, developed at Stanford University. Sara has a talent for making compassion easy and effective, and we talked about how to do that more intentionally now, when it's so urgently needed. We covered why compassion is critical for us to thrive and be happy (both personally and collectively), what often stops people from compassion, and the surprisingly easy ways to practice it that feel great, too!

To have compassion means to “suffer with” or to be present in the midst of someone else's suffering. When being compassionate, you work on reducing your judgment while practicing acceptance, mindfulness and kindness, all of which is easier said than done. This beautiful conversation with Sara Schairer delves deep into the practice of compassion; she shares how she not only practiced compassion to heal herself during challenging times in her life, but has built a non-profit so she can spread the value and teachings of compassion to others. Compassion It became an overnight global movement in 2012 and is built on the foundation that compassion is the most important lesson we can teach others and it. Sara has brought these tools and training with big tech, inmates and educators. Our conversation covers all areas from the impact compassion has in our day-to-day lives and as well as how to begin to practice.    About Sara: Sara Schairer is the founder and executive director of Compassion It®, a nonprofit organization and global social movement whose mission is to inspire daily compassionate actions and attitudes. A facilitator of the Compassion Cultivation Training® (CCT) course developed at Stanford University, Sara leads trainings for audiences of all walks of life, from big tech leaders to inmates. She led compassion trainings in Africa sponsored by the Botswana Ministries of Health and Education and spent a week at a Rwandan refugee camp working on unleashing compassion within its healthcare system.   Sara gives talks and leads experiential workshops on everyday compassion, self-compassion, burnout prevention, and mindfulness. She also created the one-of-a-kind reversible Compassion It wristband that prompts compassionate actions on six continents, 50+ countries and all 50 states. Sara is a contributing author to the book The Neuroscience of Learning and Development: Enhancing Creativity, Compassion, Critical Thinking and Peace in Education, and writes for Deepak Chopra's Center for Wellbeing website.   Follow Sara:  www.compassionit.com www.compassionit.com/30daychallenge

I sat down with my friend and colleague Sara Schairer, who is the founder and executive director of Compassion It and a Stanford University-trained Compassion Cultivation Training teacher. Together we explore the benefits of practicing compassion even for people who trigger us or we have a hard time relating to. We also explore the simplest ways to offer compassion to people we find it difficult to cultivate compassion for and how to tend to ourselves in that process.

Special Episode 5/5 - The Art of Listening - Healing Your Heart Unlock the secret of transforming your suffering into love. In the next 5 episodes every monday, I share my physical transformation stories. They are listening and contemplation experiences to guide you to transcend your inner suffering. While I open my heart with lightness, you will open yours too.  Your benefits in those 5 special episodes: Master the Art of Listening Deeply Care for Others See Yourself in Others Transform Traumas Healing Your Heart Balance Feminine and Masculine Master Empathy and Compassion It is not always about you. We tend to judge and opinionate from our beliefs and worldview. The more you listen to others, the more you will listen to yourself. That is the paradox and one secret of inner transformation and healing.  Feel free to visit my additional resources below: Beyonduality Blog: https://beyonduality.com/ Gene Keys Blueprint: https://beyonduality.com/genekeys/

Special Episode 4/5 - The Art of Listening - Healing Your Heart Unlock the secret of transforming your suffering into love. In the next 5 episodes every monday, I share my physical transformation stories. They are listening and contemplation experiences to guide you to transcend your inner suffering. While I open my heart with lightness, you will open yours too.  Your benefits in those 5 special episodes: Master the Art of Listening Deeply Care for Others See Yourself in Others Transform Traumas Healing Your Heart Balance Feminine and Masculine Master Empathy and Compassion It is not always about you. We tend to judge and opinionate from our beliefs and worldview. The more you listen to others, the more you will listen to yourself. That is the paradox and one secret of inner transformation and healing.  Feel free to visit my additional resources below: Beyonduality Blog: https://beyonduality.com/ Gene Keys Blueprint: https://beyonduality.com/genekeys/

Special Episode 3/5 - The Art of Listening - Healing Your Heart Unlock the secret of transforming your suffering into love. In this special episode, I share my physical transformation stories. They are listening and contemplation experiences to guide you to transcend your inner suffering. While I open my heart with lightness, you will open yours too.  Your benefits in those 5 special episodes: Master the Art of Listening Deeply Care for Others See Yourself in Others Transform Traumas Healing Your Heart Balance Feminine and Masculine Master Empathy and Compassion It is not always about you. We tend to judge and opinionate from our beliefs and worldview. The more you listen to others, the more you will listen to yourself. That is the paradox and one secret of inner transformation and healing.  Feel free to visit my additional resources below: Beyonduality Blog: https://beyonduality.com/ Gene Keys Blueprint: https://beyonduality.com/genekeys/  

Special Episode 2/5 - The Art of Listening - Healing Your Heart Unlock the secret of transforming your suffering into love. In the next 5 episodes every monday, I share my physical transformation stories. They are listening and contemplation experiences to guide you to transcend your inner suffering. While I open my heart with lightness, you will open yours too.  Your benefits in those 5 special episodes: Master the Art of Listening Deeply Care for Others See Yourself in Others Transform Traumas Healing Your Heart Balance Feminine and Masculine Master Empathy and Compassion It is not always about you. We tend to judge and opinionate from our beliefs and worldview. The more you listen to others, the more you will listen to yourself. That is the paradox and one secret of inner transformation and healing.  Feel free to visit my additional resources below: Beyonduality Blog: https://beyonduality.com/ Gene Keys Blueprint: https://beyonduality.com/genekeys/  

Special Episode 1/5 - The Art of Listening - Healing Your Heart Unlock the secret of transforming your suffering into love. In the next 5 episodes every monday, I share my physical transformation stories. They are listening and contemplation experiences to guide you to transcend your inner suffering. While I open my heart with lightness, you will open yours too.  Your benefits in those 5 special episodes: Master the Art of Listening Deeply Care for Others See Yourself in Others Transform Traumas Healing Your Heart Balance Feminine and Masculine Master Empathy and Compassion It is not always about you. We tend to judge and opinionate from our beliefs and worldview. The more you listen to others, the more you will listen to yourself. That is the paradox and one secret of inner transformation and healing.  Feel free to visit my additional resources below: Beyonduality Blog: https://beyonduality.com/ Gene Keys Blueprint: https://beyonduality.com/genekeys/  

Many of us are struggling during this time of COVID-19 and police brutality. It can feel hard to extend compassion to those with different views, let alone to ourselves. In this episode, psychologist and creator of Superhero Therapy, Dr. Janina Scarlet, shares her origin story that led from exposure to Chernobyl radiation as a child to immigration to bullying to discovering her calling: helping people with emotional pain become the heroes of their personal journeys. A major element of her Superhero Therapy is practicing compassion. Remembering to apply these useful skills can be a challenge. That’s where the founder of the non-profit Compassion It., Sara Schairer, comes in. Sara shares her inspiring story of how she created a worldwide social movement to teach and spread compassion. Janina and Sara talk with us about extending compassion even to those with whom we disagree, and why this matters, especially right now. And Sara leads us in an experiential compassion practice.  Listen and Learn What Superhero Therapy isWhat Compassion it.tm is and how we can join the compassion missionHow we define compassionWhy compassion toward others, including those with whom we disagree, is importantA helpful compassion exercise About Dr. Janina Scarlet Dr. Janina Scarlet Dr. Janina Scarlet is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, a scientist, and a full-time geek. A Ukrainian-born refugee, she survived Chernobyl radiation and persecution. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 with her family and later, inspired by the X-Men, developed Superhero Therapy to help patients with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Scarlet was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights award from the United Nations Association for Superhero Therapy. She is the author of “Superhero Therapy,” “Therapy Quest,” “Harry Potter Therapy,” “Dark Agents” Superwomen,” and “Supernatural Therapy”.  About Sara Schairer Sara Schairer is the founder and executive director of Compassion It®, a nonprofit organization and global social movement whose mission is to inspire daily compassionate actions and attitudes.  Sara Schairer A facilitator of the Compassion Cultivation Training® (CCT) course developed at Stanford University, Sara has led trainings for audiences of all walks of life, from corporate executives to inmates at a maximum-security prison. She also led compassion trainings in Africa sponsored by the Botswana Ministries of Health and Education and spent a week at a Rwandan refugee camp working on unleashing compassion within its health care system. Sara is a contributing author to the book The Neuroscience of Learning and Development: Enhancing Creativity, Compassion, Critical Thinking and Peace in Education, and writes for Deepak Chopra’s Center for Wellbeing website. Sara gives talks and leads experiential workshops on burnout prevention, implicit bias, mindfulness, and compassion. She also created the one-of-a-kind reversible Compassion It wristband that prompts compassionate actions on six continents, 50+ countries and all 50 states. Resources The Center for Stress & Anxiety ManagementSuperhero TherapyCompassion ItBe An AdvocateWristbandMeditation 50. Compassion Focused Therapy with Dr. Russell Kolts

Today on the podcast we have the lovely Sara Schairer on who is the Founder of Compassion It - an organization on a mission to inspire compassionate actions and attitudes. Sara discuses how everyone benefits from compassion and how you can easily put this into action in 3 simple steps. Now that parents are home with their kids more, Sara offers tips on parenting with compassion amidst our new normal in the current pandemic times.   “Compassion doesn't mean that you are a doormat, or that people will walk all over you. Compassion takes a lot of courage, a lot of strength.” - Sara Schairer

You never know when the universe is going to bring people back into your life! I worked with today’s guest a decade ago in my corporate life! She recently attended our Brand Camp Retreat and it’s been so fun to be able to see and support this next evolution of who Abbie is becoming and what she’s creating! Abbie is a trainer, speaker and business owner. Founder of the non profit Kyndly and Chairman of the Board for Compassion It, she is focused on impacting people, creating community and building a kinder world. As former head of sales operations and training for a multi-billion dollar public company and VP of People and Culture for a successful startup tech company, Abbie draws from her experiences to help others focus on cultivating joy and finding the light they give from within themselves, each and every day. She brings her quick-witted humor, personal challenges and relentless positivity to every interaction, workshop and engagement. Abbie helps women strengthen their “joy joints”. Like the food we eat, our exercise routine and even making our bed in the morning, joy is a choice and a habit that we have to work on.  She’ll talk about The difference between happiness and joy and  the five  ways to strengthen your joy joints.   Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook   For more info on the host, visit, www.rebeccacafiero.com and follow Rebecca on Instagram @rebeccacafiero ! Want a chance to win a $50 LuluLemon Gift Card?   Click Here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts Take a screenshot of your review! Email your screenshot to rebecca@rebeccacafiero.com Let’s connect on social media! Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

You never know when the universe is going to bring people back into your life! I worked with today’s guest a decade ago in my corporate life! She recently attended our Brand Camp Retreat and it’s been so fun to be able to see and support this next evolution of who Abbie is becoming and what she’s creating! Abbie is a trainer, speaker and business owner. Founder of the non profit Kyndly and Chairman of the Board for Compassion It, she is focused on impacting people, creating community and building a kinder world. As former head of sales operations and training for a multi-billion dollar public company and VP of People and Culture for a successful startup tech company, Abbie draws from her experiences to help others focus on cultivating joy and finding the light they give from within themselves, each and every day. She brings her quick-witted humor, personal challenges and relentless positivity to every interaction, workshop and engagement. Abbie helps women strengthen their “joy joints”. Like the food we eat, our exercise routine and even making our bed in the morning, joy is a choice and a habit that we have to work on.  She’ll talk about The difference between happiness and joy and  the five  ways to strengthen your joy joints.   Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook   For more info on the host, visit, www.rebeccacafiero.com and follow Rebecca on Instagram @rebeccacafiero ! Want a chance to win a $50 LuluLemon Gift Card?   Click Here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts Take a screenshot of your review! Email your screenshot to rebecca@rebeccacafiero.com Let’s connect on social media! Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. Dalai Lama Sara runs a non-profit company called Compassion It which is a global social movement reminding […] The post BTC 009 : How to be more Compassion IT with Sara Schairer appeared first on Breakthrough Play.

I have a confession to make: I don't believe in Buddha. It may be shocking for a Buddhist priest to say so, as shocking as hearing a Catholic priest say he "doesn't believe in Jesus". But it's true nonetheless. I am a Buddhist priest who thinks "Buddha" is largely bunk and baloney. At least, I think there's a lot of "bull" to how Buddha is typically portrayed. I think many of the utterly fantastic Mahayana Sutra stories of Buddhas are ridiculous ... hyper-exaggerated ... just unbelievable! (meaning that they cannot be literally believed any more than children's fairy tales). The imagery is incredibly beautiful ... but the tale just incredible nonsense, purely the product of human imagination. I think the image of a "Perfect Buddha" ... either in this world or some Buddha Land ... as a flawless being beyond all human weakness, conflict and ignorance ... is a fable, a religious myth. I think most of the old miracle filled stories are well meaning fictions, sometimes holy lies, and the golden statues and paintings of Buddhas are but depictions of exaggerated dreams. Oh, I believe that there was a man who lived whom we now call "the Buddha", but I think what happened over the centuries' is his victimhood to a process of hagiography. A Buddha or Ancestor dies (same for Jesus, saints and holy men in other religions) and ... century by century ... those in the religion (looking from afar at what the attainments actually were on the part of their "religious icon" and with need to depict the top value of the religion) go over the top, start to imagine, fantasize and exaggerate the wonderful nature of the teacher and teaching into something super-human. A flesh and blood teacher who was merely "Great, Profound and Wonderful" must unfortunately becomes someone "Magical, Miraculous and Mythical" ... all to the point of Malarky. The worshipful dip the man in gold, remove all human qualities and gradually turn their hero into a statue, a super-hero. As a result, "Buddha" is no more real than "Beowulf" or "Batman". However ... my doubts about make believe "Buddhas" are not important to my Buddhist practice in the least. As well, although I do not believe in imaginary Buddhas ... I believe in Buddhas. Better said, I know Buddha for a fact! How? What? Let me explain. I believe in ... I KNOW ... Buddha in many ways, each Real as Real can be. One way is to see that such Buddhas (Bodhisattvas too) exist as a paradigm, an ideal, a goal representing the best of the human condition to which men and women can aspire. As I said in a talk last week on Kannon, the symbol of Compassion: It does not matter that she "may not be really real", for we make Kannon "really real" in life: I had a hard time, for many years, incorporating into my practice many figures such as Kannon and Jizo ... I have come to see "them" as archtypes, representing real characteristics of human life and (since we are just the universe) thus the universe. In other words: When we feel in our hearts and act upon Love and Compassion, thereby Love and Compassion exist as real, concrete aspects of the world which our hearts and acts create. There is no "inside" or "outside" ultimately, thus what is inside you is just as much "the universe" and concrete reality as the moon, gravity and the stars. That is "Kannon", in that way a real and concrete aspect and 'force' of the world. Her 1000 helping hands are our hands, and our actions make her real in the world. As with Bodhisattvas, so it is with the Buddha, all the Buddhas. Wisdom and Compassion realized in each of us is the realization (meaning both "the discovery" and "the making real") of Buddha in the world. We make Buddha real, Kannon and the other Bodhisattvas too. (Mara and the Devil too if we act badly). Next, I believe in the Buddha when I prove the worth of the Buddha's Teachings in my own life. The proof here is right in life's pudding. The Teachings are the Truth of Buddha that we can each verify in our lives. The Heart of the Buddha's teachings ... the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, Non-Self, Non-Attachment, Dependent Origination, the Middle Way, so much more, ... are all here now and can be known to all of us ... worth the whole ticket of admission! What's more, I recognize that the fantastic stories, the idealized images of Buddhas ... even the most incredible allegories and hallucinatory images of the Mahayana Sutras ... are merely attempts to convey these wondrous Truths and Teachings, to show their power. Even if I do not take the Sutra stories literally, I can dig what they are trying to say behind the wild way they do it. In that way, even the most bizarre image found in some Sutra tale is True if the Teaching it attempts to convey is True. And ultimately, although I do not believe at all in so-called "Awakened Buddhas who have mastered the Dharma 100% and are Perfect Beings beyond all human flaws" ... I believe through and through in "Awakened Buddhas who have mastered the Dharma 100% and are Perfect Beings beyond all human flaws". Huh? Sounds like a contradiction there? Sounds like I am speaking out of both sides of my no sided mouth? Well, get over it. This Buddhist Way allows for countless "contradictions" held in total harmony! You see, I believe in Buddhas who are Perfectly Buddha, Perfectly Reality ... beyond small human concepts of the "pure" and "impure", fully manifesting and enlivening the Dance of Emptiness. That is a kind of Purity and Perfection when there is dropped all human judgments of the stained vs. the pure. I believe in Buddhas who are always moral, never breaking a Precept ... for there is no Precept that can ever be broken, nothing to steal or do violence to, and no separate 'other' to take or injure in any way. Yes, Virginia, there is a Buddha beyond all thought of lack or flaw! In fact, in the realm of Real Buddha, even small minded judgments of "real" and "unreal" cleanly drop away. And when we couple this Great Buddha with the Buddhas we make real in our lives ... by manifesting Wisdom and Compassion in our thoughts, words and acts ... we have a way to manifest that Perfect Buddha right here in the Saha world. We do our best in this life to live Compassionately by the Precepts avoiding harm. We fill ourselves with Prajna Wisdom, seeing this world for the 'dream within a dream' it truly is. At the moment, Buddha and all the Great Bodhisattvas are also real as real can be, walking the earth. The extreme and exaggerated stories of Buddhas' powers are but a mental mirror reflection of human imperfections, extrapolated to the ultimate by men based on seeing what men are now not. These images are themselves just 'Made in Samsara'. Paintings of 'Nirvana' are themselves imperfect goods of Samsara! Yet, there is Nirvana, this Perfection swallowing all small human mirages of perfection and imperfection ... and such is Buddha! Thus, Buddhas are but fables and lies, Buddhas are human aspirations, Buddhas are True Teachings, Buddhas are Whole and Complete beyond "full" or "lack", Buddhas live and breathe in the world when we live and breath like Buddhas. The Buddhist Path is Real Liberation is Real Buddha is Real Today’s Sit-A-Long video follows at this link. Remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 15 to 35 minutes is recommended. Visit the forum thread here!