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Contemplative psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and groups in New York City.
General Community Discussion |
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Obstacles & Roadblocks
As practitioners, we're all familiar with the obstacles that arise during our practice—the "five hindrances" of desire, aversion, laziness, restlessness, and doubt are traditionally the most common roadblocks. But what, specifically, are the things that keep you away from your practice? Is it some manifestation of those pesky hindrances? Or is it something else, such as a lack of time, self-discipline, or a proper space? In this discussion we'd like to explore obstacles to practice. And then, ultimately, we’d like to hear how you are working to overcome these obstacles. After all, we all get stuck. How do you get unstuck?Image: Liu Bolin More » -
Building the First Holistic Center for Homeless Youth
Nearly half of all homeless youth have experienced sexual, physical or psychological abuse by an immediate family member. Some youth become homeless when their parents die of poverty or AIDS, others are turned out because of parental neglect or drug abuse and still others because they identify as lesbian, gay or transgender. All of the homeless youth living in shelters, couch-surfing or working the streets have suffered from trauma, anxiety, fear, isolation, loneliness and hopelessness. And yet, our homeless system in America is built upon a philosophy of addressing external conditions—such as offering temporary shelter, occasional meals and intermittent health care. Venturing within—to work with the root causes of sustained homelessness—is viewed as experimental and too costly. And so, most homeless youth become homeless adults. More » -
JuBus and Christian Buddhists
About a year ago, in his piece "Christian Buddhism?" on Buddhist Geeks, Dennis Hunter suggested that we Buddhists ought to more seriously consider the influence of Christianity when we speak of Buddhism in the West. More » -
What led you to Buddhism?
I would like to hear from community members about what it was that led you to become interested in and/or begin practicing Buddhism.I know one man who, after a lifetime of being an "overachiever"—getting straight A's throughout his school years and graduating from an Ivy League university at the top of his class—had a full psychological and existential breakdown, feeling that all the knowledge and skill he had gained was useless because, at a very fundamental level, he didn't even know who or what he was. When he began to study dharma and practice meditation he saw that, "there are some things you just can't learn in school." More » -
Civil Discourse in a Time of Gunfire
The editors and I had already agreed to hold an online conversation about "civil discourse" with the Tricycle Community. Then, in a tragic coincidence, the shootings in Tucson brought the subject into painfully sharp focus. The topic has been the theme of my own engagement with Tricycle from the beginning. My first piece, "Above the Fray." dealt with my own conflicted feelings as a political writer and activist who found "right speech" and political engagement impossible to reconcile. More » -
Gifts That Keep Giving, December 2010
A discussion with Joan Duncan Oliver The holidays are coming. Time to draw up your gift list. Forget cashmere lap robes, chronometer watches, that scented candle your assistant will only re-gift to her grandmother. Expensive, unimaginative presents are so last year. The Buddhist spirit of giving—dana—is about generosity, not booty. We need to think outside the Tiffany box. Conscious consuming today means not just buying less but being mindful of your footprint on the earth. “Green” etiquette says the best present is one that doesn’t pollute, doesn’t exploit resources, causes no harm, helps someone in need—and may even burnish your karma. When you plunk down your credit card, make it truly count. More »
