inner peace – Notes from Ben

Silence

My daughter’s pre-school teacher suggested we try to make deliberate spaces in the day for silence with the kids, maybe just 3 minutes to start with. Find a quiet spot in the house, light a candle in the center of the space, and sit quietly. She suggested that these spaces would be incredibly nutritive forContinue reading “Silence”

This Day, in Peace

First, the illustration, it’s from another Haiku challenge from my sister: Autumn evening,there’s joy also in loneliness. Thank you to my friend Vincent V.G. for helping me with the sky 🙂 Now for a verse I wrote: This day, in peace.Whatever comes up,Letting go of everything. I keep this written on a piece of paperContinue reading “This Day, in Peace”

Being Solid in the Storm

With regards to how to move through life, how to deal with difficult times, how to be with others, how to be with my children and my family, with myself, I am very fond of this text from Thich Nhat Hanh, taken from a talk around 20 years ago (hence the reference to Vietnamese boatContinue reading “Being Solid in the Storm”

The Farmer’s Peace and Lorca’s Drawings

I’m sure you know the wonderful Zen Story of the Chinese Farmer, here told by Alan Watts: “Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.”Continue reading “The Farmer’s Peace and Lorca’s Drawings”

Change 3: Effortlessness

The first two changes I’m making are tangible, you can hold them in your hands and see them with your eyes: drawing, and reading books. This third change is abstract, but just as real. Change 3 is Effortlessness. To live with Effortlessness. What does that even mean?! I have been going to the physiotherapist everyContinue reading “Change 3: Effortlessness”