A rare gift to share with the world.

 Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.

Simone Weil

Who do you care about most in this life? Who needs your help, your insight, your wisdom? How do you even begin to help those in need, the poor, the destitute, the hungry? 

Here is the secret: 

Start with attention. 

Start with being present for that person, acknowledging them, listening to them, giving them the gift of being seen. 

Attention and presence are the ground upon which change and a path to better are built. You might not know the solutions to their problems, you might now be able to see all the steps between where you are and where you would like to be, you probably don't know the next best action or the right thing to say. But you can establish that ground, you can be present and bring forth the gift of attention.  

Your presence and attention can be the ground upon which the long arc of building a better future can start to be built. 

Consider giving.

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. This holiday season I hope you consider giving to charities as one of the gifts you share. It doesn't need to be much, but every gift matters and opens doors of possibility and hope for others. Here are a few of the charities worth considering:

Feeding America

With the pervasive presence of COVID-19, many families are facing difficulty putting food on the table. There are numerous organizations that have met this challenge, and Feeding America is one of the highest rated and most efficient programs working to connect people with the food they need. You can also enter your zip code to determine local food banks if you want to focus on your community (Food Lifeline for Seattle). Every $1 donation provides ten meals to families in need. 

GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly gives cash to people in need, no strings attached. Studies have shown this to be the most effective way to help the poor and make an impact in their lives. They currently have campaigns in America and Africa to help those in need. Your dollar goes a long way to helping families in Africa, and we also have a pressing need to support those in our own communities across America. 

buildOn

buildOn empowers the youth to serve our country and the world in order to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations. They are a highly rated charity with various programs to help both in America and abroad. A $66 donation supports the education for three children in developing countries.

Charity:water

Charity:water funds clean water projects in developing countries, providing access to clean and safe drinking water. It's easy to overlook to impact clean water makes to our life until we don't have it. Millions of people around the world struggle to procure clean water every day, time that could be used for work or education. 100% of every donation goes to fund clean water projects.

Equal Justice Initiative

The EJI works to end mass incarceration, seeking racial justice and public education to protect basic human rights. EJI has a perfect score of 100 on Charity Navigator, meaning every dollar you donate has maximal impact. 

84,000

84,000 translates all of the Buddha's words into modern language, providing free and open access to all via its online reading room. $250 supports the translation of one page of the Buddha's teachings. Give a little, and then spend some time enjoying their reading room knowing that you are helping to make it happen. 

Buddhist Digital Resource Center

TBRC is dedicating to seeking out, preserving and sharing Buddhist texts through technology. For over twenty years they have been seeking out the hardcopies of texts and then scanning them into a digital format. I have been using their online library for over ten years to translate various texts, all of which are made freely available to translators and academic institutions. Projects like 84,000 and other Buddhist publications rely heavily on their work. 

There are a hundreds of other important charities to support. GiveWell provides a list of charities that make the most impact per dollar. Charity Navigator is a useful resource for evaluating charities and assessing the impact that they provide. 

Money is not the only gift you can share this holiday season. Our communities are in desperate need of kindness, patience, and giving each other a break. A smile goes a long way, but in a world where we often cannot see others smile, looking someone in the eye and being present for them can be a gift we can all aspire to share. 

No one is watching.

Our culture is largely centered on doing things for show. You record yourself working out, practicing your art, going through the motions. We are constantly broadcasting who we are to the world, marketing the best version of ourself to others. 

How do you practice when no one is watching? 

What are your actions when no one is there to hold you accountable?

How you show up in the world when no one is watching is most likely your most generous act, but it can also provide us with an opportunity to be our most selfish. It's up to you. 

A sanctuary gifted to the Buddha.

Anathapindika (A-natta-pin-dika) was the foremost of the Buddha's lay male disciples. He was praised for his generosity and humility, but also for the sharpness of his intellect. His faith and devotion to the Buddha and his teachings were unshakeable.

It was Anathapindika who offered the Buddha the sanctuary outside Shravasti known as Jetavana. Jetavana, or Jeta Park, was a beautiful forest grove located in the hills outside the city of Shravasti. It was quiet and secluded, yet easy to get to from the city for people to attend to the Buddha's teachings and for the monks to go for alms each morning. The park itself was beautiful, with groves of trees,  a large lotus pond, and a vihara. The vihara was a simple structure with a central hall, dwelling places and walkways.

Anathapindika gave birth to the vision for offering the Buddha this sanctuary upon their very first meeting. Anathapindika was a successful businessman who had been visiting his brother-in-law during a business trip to Rajgir, about 350 miles east of Shravasti. Rajgir was the capital of the Magadha kingdom ruled by King Bimbasara. Anathapindika had been there many times on business and always stayed with his brother-in-law who was also a successful businessman. On this occasion Anathapindika arrived to find his brother-in-law quite preoccupied with the arrival of the Buddha the next day. Anathapindika found himself inspired by his brother's description of the Buddha and decided to stay for his arrival.

The next morning he awoke early and set out to Veluvana, the Bamboo Grove, where the Buddha was going to be that day. The sunlight was just starting to illuminate the eastern sky, a light fog still hung in the trees. Birds were singing, proclaiming the arrival of the day. In the distance, Anathapindika saw a lone figure silently walking, his gaze steady, his every step intentional, consummate. Anathapindika hesitated, not wanting to disturb the monk.

"Come, Sudatta."

Anathapindika was startled by this address, for no one knew his birth name and surely he had never met this monk before. Anathapindika knew he must be in the presence of the Buddha, so he prostrated himself before the Buddha and approached. "Thank you, blessed one, Bhagavan. How are you?"

"Thank you, kind sir. I am well. Well, indeed, for I have gone beyond all that gives rise to suffering and discontentment." Anathapindika, of sharp intellect, quickly picked up what the Buddha was saying, that there are things in this world that lead us to pain and dissatisfaction, and that we can go beyond those very things. The Buddha, seeing his interest and natural wisdom, continued to teach him. He spoke to him of generosity and virtue, of the illusoriness of sensual pleasures and the benefits of letting go of reactivity. When the Buddha saw that Anathapindaka was attentive and serene, he taught him the Four Noble Truths. Anathapindika understood all of these teachings, and without any hesitation or doubt became a stream-enterer. His Dharma eye opened, he invited the Buddha for a meal at his brother-in-laws the very next day.

The next day, after offering the meal to the Buddha, he requested that the Buddha visit Shravasti and that he would like to offer him a sanctuary there. The Buddha answered, "The Buddha enjoys peaceful places." Anathapindika was elated at the Buddha's consent.

It is in this way that Anathapindika became a devout student of the Buddha, searching out and finding the beautiful gardens of Jeta Park, and going on to support and sponsor many teachings in that place. For the rest of his life Anathapindika continued to support and provide a safe sanctuary for the Buddha's disciples to engage in their practice free from distraction.

Each and every thing.

This cup of tea.
A blooming flower.
The trees bending and waving in the wind.
Silent observance.
Each and every thing,
beckoning you,
calling you to presence,
asking you to bear witness
to it all,
while holding onto
nothing whatsoever. 
This perfection of generosity,
is not the giving
of every thing,
but being open
to every thing.
Every thing
is an offering,
as an expression
of pure presence.

Imminent revelation.

There are moments that are always presenting themselves, moments to lend a hand, moments to share a kind word, moments to help or guide those who are struggling along the way. At times we recognize our capacity and resourcefulness and act with genuine kindness. Most of the time, we find ways to hold back and keep moving along in our own lane.

Pure presence or awareness (Tib. rigpa) is completely open, receptive and responsive. It is an awareness in which we are not holding onto anything. This genuine presence places us in a world of imminent revelation, where we become active participants in the ongoing creation of the world around us.

The ego would have us move away from the present out of fear, uncertainty and hesitation. Ego seeks to be distracted or to escape, leading us into worlds that don't exist around us, in which we are further disconnected and disembodied.

In this sense, awakening to greater presence connects us to the fundamental creativity that is a continually unfolding reality. This elusive yet ever-present creativity can only be witnessed in a state of open and receptive awareness, in which the play of the world and beings moves like a dance in the pavilion of space.

We can catch glimpses of this in our ordinary waking life. We all have moments when we are open and receptive, catching moments of insight and divine inspiration. But soon we close in on thoughts, wrapping ourselves in stories and ideas that insulate us from what continues to unfold around us.

Imminent revelation is reality revealing herself to pure presence. It is a tender witnessing of the uniqueness of this present world. Its very nature is beyond thought, word or expression, and yet in those moments we find the words and the actions that need to be expressed.

Of course the ego would not have us be so generous. The ego would tempt us to hold back, to give a little less, to not be quite so vulnerable. "Next time you can do something remarkable," as the beacon of light that is genuine presence fades into hiding and not being seen or heard.

Recognize when you are being called to presence
and when you are shutting down and holding back.
Go beyond yourself.
Step into a world of imminent revelation
and do the thing that needs to be done.

The ground of generosity.

Each of us has gifts we can share with the world- gifts of kindness, compassion, understanding, dignity and respect. Authentic presence is the ground of such generosity, the more deeply we can be in the world, the greater the gifts that we can share.

Presence is a channel through which we meet the world and through which creativity and inspiration may flow. Pure presence enlivens our own life, but also serves to wake up and benefit the lives of others. We must learn to deepen our presence in order to carry our gifts into the world and truly bring benefit to others.

The biggest challenge to being deeply present and sustaining our open awareness is a sense of holding back or holding onto something. When we find ourselves hesitating, caught up in uncertainty or fear, those become a weight on us and we end up having a dull presence or not being present at all. When we are in this state of diminished awareness, we often feel stuck or even depressed, as if the very things we are holding onto are holding us back.

When we learn to work with hesitation and fear, recognizing them as a call to deepen our presence and let go of our fixation, we can start to regain the ground of our generosity. As we learn to remain in this ground and gain confidence in it, we will naturally start to share kindness, compassion and insight. When we learn to share these gifts without hope or expectation, we discover that our awareness actually expands and that nothing is lost by being freely given.

Nowadays, everyone tries to capitalize on their gifts, turning them into careers or businesses. This is a slippery slope, because in an effort to commoditize our gifts, we often sell ourselves short and devalue the very thing that is most meaningful in our life- our very presence in the world.

Occupy.

We need you to occupy the world that you are in.

We need you to figure out how to be present in that world. We need you to do the inner work necessary so that you can participate in that world with kindness, compassion and generosity. We need you to learn how to use resistance, hesitation and fear as a call to be deeply present in a world of chaos.

That world doesn't need to be big. It doesn't need to be the whole world. Matter of fact, it shouldn't be the whole world and it can't be the whole world. It is best to start small, the smaller the better.

Occupy your home with presence and contribute generously to the well-being and happiness of your family or friends. If your home is too big of a space and there is too much going on, choose one relationship to occupy with full presence and kindness, maybe with a teacher or partner. If that is too big of a space, choose to occupy yourself with presence and kindness. Learn to sit on your own meditation seat with honesty, kindness and openness. Learn to be understanding and receptive to your own suffering and discontentment.

When you learn to occupy your smallest world with compassion, kindness and generosity, gradually that world will start to expand and widen. You'll step into a larger world having already established a ground of presence. Gradually, walls will fall, doors will open and your vision will expand.

This applies to your relationships and your work. When you learn to be open and honest with yourself, you can be understanding and receptive to others. When we can be fully present and engaged with our friends and family, we can carry that presence into our communities when dealing with strangers. Gradually, we can learn to work with difficult situations and people who are creating problems for us along the way.

If you cannot handle your present environment, assuming a larger space will not make things easier or better. When you can learn to fully occupy your present space, your world will naturally widen and you will see where you can contribute to that larger world.

It all starts with presence. Learn to occupy the smallest space with presence and generosity. That probably means starting with your meditation cushion. As your practice deepens and you gain confidence, you will naturally be more present and be able to participate fully in the world at large.

"Adversity reveals genius."

Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.

Horace

The question is not whether you have this potential. The question is whether or not at this moment, at this time and in this place, you will do the emotionally heavy labor of being present, understanding and generous. 

Each of us participates and contributes to the world around us in some way. We can choose how we want to contribute. We can choose to be patient, kind and generous.  We can choose empathy and compassion over anger and disrespect. 

Following through on that choice is not always easy.

When we come face to face with adversity- the resistance of shutting down, tuning out, hesitating- we have an opportunity to recognize that moment and rely on the crucial instructions of the practice.

The genius that is revealed is not related to our innate abilities or talents. It is not the result of our actions or work. This genius refers to a deeper presence in the world. It is a way of being in the world and contributing to the world.

Letter to a friend (The Renaissance Letter).

Dear friend, 

It has been quite some time since our last conversation. Summer has revealed her bounty and now fall is just starting to take form. The lavender is dried out and has lost its fragrance, the witch hazel tree has turned a fiery red, and the maple has already begun shedding her leaves. The world that we find ourselves in today is undergoing seismic shifts. We all find ourselves troubled by the challenges of climate change, political theater, and a society utterly destitute of belonging and community. Don't get caught up in speculation and longing. Take the time you need to cultivate inner abundance and joy, and take pleasure in the simple things around you. Find ways to support and inspire other practitioners in your life, as we are all in this boat together!

Just as the outer world changes, there is dramatic change unfolding in you. You may not notice it, you may not see its form, but if you are still you can feel its presence. Take time to sit and listen to that which is inexpressible. Within that space of deep stillness, you will find something that moves in you. Don't fixate on it, don't become too elated. Just relax. Clarity reveals itself naturally without effort. Effort in this moment simply creates more confusion and a cycle of disappointment.

This inner work of revealing your own heart is not easy. Don't take it lightly. You need to do the work, which means putting in the time and effort into your practice. I suppose that is why they call it the path of meditation, because we need to traverse the inner landscape of our own heart and mind in order to find what it is we have to share with the world. Don't be afraid of getting lost on that journey. Just as when one is in a new city, getting lost can reveal more and create more of an impression than rushing straight to your chosen destination. You are always blazing the path of meditation in your own life, meaning the trail is always behind you.

This commitment and dedication that you have is quite uncommon in this world. I know at times you must be frustrated and feel at a loss. Be patient with yourself. Your work inspires us all, even though we often do not have the words to say it. Bit by bit, our intentions and actions shape the world. The work of compassion and generosity is rarely done with a hammer and chisel, often it very subtle and we do not get to appreciate the final form in our lifetime. Be confident that form does reveal itself even if you do not see it. Your work, your art, leaves an impression in the world and that impression is in the lives of the people you impact.

The renaissance was a time of reawakening to human values and the measure of man. This question of what is sacred and what it means to be human is ever more urgent in our world. Artists moved the renaissance. Artists were the creators of change and the drivers of what people came to value and appreciate. Their art created an impact, it changed the culture. Now is a time in which we need more artists.

Take a moment to look at your own work, this inner work that you are doing. Does it lend itself to refining your values and who we are in the world? Does it examine the nature of what it means to be fully human and the nature of the world in which we move? Does your work reveal insight into the human condition and our place in the world?

This work that you are doing is the work of an artist. You are the blank canvas and the block of marble. In order for art to make an impact, it must be shared. It must go out into the world where it can interact with others, influence their perception and shape their values. Art that isn't shared isn't art at all, it is just a painting or a piece of sculpture. Art creates change. The way that you create change is by being present and contributing. Compassion, kindness and generosity are the expressions of your art, and each of those has the power to shape a human life and to make an impact in the world.

We too find ourselves in a renaissance, only this time the art won't stand in galleries. Art is the gift of our humanity that changes and benefits the lives of others. A life dedicated to this work and practice has both purpose and meaning. It has the power to shift the culture, to create a culture of awakening. This is the work of the bodhisattva, the work of revealing our own heart for the benefit of others.

With fervent admiration and support for you and the work that you do.

Gregory Scott Patenaude

Right Livelihood.

Right view, right intention, right speech, right action, 

right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, 

right concentration; this, bhikkhus, is the middle way 

awakened to by the Tathagata.

What is right livelihood? 

We can start to understand by knowing what it is not: it does not harm others, does not deceive others and is not dishonest. 

That is the ground, do no harm. Having the intention to do no harm unto others through your work, the question then becomes, how can you contribute to others and your community? What talents and gifts do you have to share? What problems can you solve that bring benefit to others or the world around you? 

These questions address a critical component of right livelihood: you can contribute meaningfully to the world around you.

We are all looking for meaning in our work and in our lives. Often, in our jobs we search out results, status roles, accomplishment and money as signs that we are doing good work. We focus on the result of our efforts rather than our actions themselves. 

Right livelihood focuses on being engaged with others. The intention and posture that follow naturally lend themselves to presence, abundance and care. When you recognize that you have something to contribute, you will contribute. You will be generous and insightful, you will put in the time and effort, you will show up and be present. 

Right livelihood is pretty simple and straightforward. How can you contribute? How can you help?

Don't do it for the promotion, or the bonus, or the status among your peers. Do it because it is the right thing to do.

Don't worry about the result.

You try to be compassionate and kind to others. You train yourself to be more present and receptive with others. You practice generosity and patience. You do all these things, and none of them seem to make a difference.

The world is still in turmoil. Everywhere we turn there is another injustice. Things seem to be getting worse, not better.

What good is our practice in a world that seems to care less?

Don't worry about the result.

Don't focus on the result of your compassion. Don't wonder how your generosity paid off. It is of no concern if your effort made an impact.

Focus on the practice. Stay engaged. Work on the cause. 

Litmus test.

As our practice evolves we move through various periods of growth, learning and change. In the beginning, we don't notice much change. Our progress seems slow and inconsequential. We might feel that during our meditation we can maintain our focus and presence, but off the cushion we still feel swept away by circumstances.

In the middle of our practice, we see some change has occurred. We are more focused and less reactive. We are able to maintain a sense of openness and balance amidst difficult situations. We start to have more insights into our own situation and the world at large. We see and experience this change, but it also comes and goes. Some days we can maintain our equipoise and composure, some days we fall off the horse.

The end result of our practice is that we experience enduring and lasting changes to who we are and how we move through the world. We are able to navigate our daily lives with balance and openness. We enjoy lasting states of kindness, patience and ease. Our practice has fundamentally changed our life.

The litmus test of our practice is our daily life. The drama and tumult that we experience on a day to day basis is the very measure of our achievement.

Can we maintain our awareness and composure? Do we get swept away in our negative self-talk and emotions? Can we be present in the face of uncertainty? When presented with the opportunity to be generous and kind, do we share our gifts?

You are the practice. Every step is the way.

The thread that holds it together.

A single thread is insignificant. It has little structural integrity and is easy to break. A single thread is unworthy of praise and often goes unnoticed.

A single thread in a weave can bring the whole thing together. It adds strength, form and creates function. If that single thread fails, the whole system can start to fall apart.

We can all find meaningful ways to contribute. Our contribution doesn't need to be the whole cloth. It can be enough to be a single thread that contributes to a larger meaningful purpose.

Can you rest in open presence when all the conditions are right?

You aspire to be more generous, more patient and kind. You value kindness and compassion. You put effort into cultivating right view and understanding.

What holds you back from practicing those all the time?

Negative emotions. Stressful situations. Difficult relationships and interactions. Our own self judgement, hope and fear. Our thoughts and ideas about how things should be or could be.

There are lots of reasons why we start to close down. It is easy to slip into narrow and confined states of mind.

Our daily practice of meditation gives us an opportunity to rest in open presence, to familiarize ourselves with our values and inner qualities. If we can learn to rest in open presence, even for a moment, then we will have more opportunity to recognize those qualities in our daily life.

It's a simple question, with profound impact.

Contributor.

Don't worry about what you can accomplish.

Don't worry about your status, or your role, or how this next thing is going to get you ahead of where you currently are. Don't worry about the results, the strategies or the tactics. 

Are you a contributor?

It's a simple question.

What can you do, right now, to contribute? It doesn't have to be amazing. It doesn't even have to be noticed. It won't be your last contribution, and it won't even be your best.

Notice the posture that this question begs. You either contribute, or you don't. You are either engaged, or not. There is no value assessment to the result of the contribution. What or how you contribute isn't even in the question.

When you make up your mind that you are a contributor, everything changes. Your intentions and actions naturally lend themselves to abundance and generosity. Your interactions and relationships change and enter into realms of possibility. You might even discover an inner sense of joy and contentment.

You don't need to contribute to everything, but figure out those couple of things that are really important in your life. Then ask yourself if you are being a contributor, and choose to take generosity as your compass.

The Scientist, Philosopher and Artist.

The Scientist.
Scientists like to experiment. They like to figure out what is really going on, and then to look to discover solutions to problems. The scientist pursues knowledge, but she does so through experience, trial and error.

The Philosopher.
The philosopher likes to examine and question. They want to know what is true, what is deceptive, and how these views influence and shape our world. The philosopher examines the very nature of our being and what can be known about our world by relying on reason, logic and critical thinking.

The Artist.
The artist is concerned with connection, relationships and impact. The artist conveys the value aspect of her work, her work creates meaning. Meaning is created through connection, change and impact. If no connection is made, or if no one is impacted, then the artist's work is undone. The artist's medium is reality, people and the web in which we are all connected.

Each of these three archetypes play a role in our practice.

When we sit down to meditate, we should sit down as a scientist. Your mind is your lab, what are you trying to solve?

Once we gain stability in our meditation, we should become a philosopher. Look deeper into your experience. Examine the nature of your own mind and the nature of reality. What is the true nature of the mind? What can be known through your experience?

When we stand from meditation, we stand as an artist. Use your daily life and interactions as the medium to create art. Share kindness, generosity and compassion. Use your trade to impact your community, create change and shape the world.

Don't be attached to any one role. Don't get caught up in the result or effect of your work. Simply attend to the different roles as they arise. There is a time to be a experiment, a time to analyze, and yes, even a time to dance.

A simple aspiration prayer.

Every morning as part of my practice I recite a few prayers before settling into meditation. There is one verse that encompasses my intention perhaps more than any other:

Please bless me to see the dharmakaya as my own awareness, 

Please let me take undesirable difficult situations onto the path,

and quickly returning the kindness of all father and mother beings of the six realms,

Bless me to come to the perfection of generosity. 

It is a simple aspiration. It doesn't involve any sort of big project or magical feat. It is within reach at this very moment, but also pervades all times, places and activities. 

Simple, yet its impact on your own life and the lives of others can be profound.

Unpaid debt.

In the past, others have benefited us greatly and we have only brought them harm. In our search for control, status and well being, we have indiscriminately left others behind, turned our backs on them or exploited them for our gain.

We owe them a great deal, yet the debt has not been paid.

We owe karmic debts to the living and deceased.  To those whom we have accidently harmed, broken their trust, stolen from, beaten or killed.  That debt weighs us on, we can feel its burden and often feel trapped by its presence.  That debt continues to define our present experience, influencing the choices we make, the habit patterns we play out and the neurotic behavior that we pretend isn't there.

We will continue to feel our karmic debts pulling on us in unhealthy ways as long as they are not settled. The process of resolving our debts starts with forgiveness, generosity and learning to rest in openness.

Forgiveness is an act of acknowledgement and a claiming of responsibility.
Generosity is a willingness to be present and to benefit others, to repay their kindness.
Openness is the practice of acknowledging and letting go of whatever it is that we are holding onto, in all of the nooks and crannies of our mind.

Our debts will never be completely resolved, but we can do our best to repay them. That opportunity is always available to us. 

Complexity, simplified.

There are three aspects to a simple spiritual practice:

A spiritual friend.
A mind of faith, diligence and wisdom.
Art.

Your spiritual friend doesn't need to be a guru.  They should be someone who inspires you, someone you trust.  They are compassionate and kind, with a gentle heart and an open mind.  They don't need to have a fancy title, but they should be someone you admire and hold in esteem. 

A mind of faith is one that has an admiration for, longing towards, and trust in what is authentic and true.  With this as our compass, we diligently, day after day, month after month, devote ourselves to our practice.  The result of this pursuit what what is authentic and true is wisdom.  Seeing things as they are, we make connections, see implications.  We gain certainty and eliminate doubts. 

Our practice must be shared, so art completes the practice.  Generosity as art, sharing kind words and deeds.  We extend our love and respect to others.  We listen, hear their pain, understand their problems.  Dignity is a gift worth sharing for those who long for it. 

These three aspects form the bedrock for a strong spiritual practice.  They simplify the complexity of the path.