uncategorized – Human Values Institute

We make life complicated

We make life complicated. We over think. We think we should do this, and we think we should do that. We tie ourselves in knots. We have expectations of perfection, and are let down again […]

The more we practice, the softer we become

The more we practice, like kneading dough, the softer we become. We are working out the impurities and roughness. This softness is forgiveness. This softness is kindness. This softness is love, towards ourself and others. […]

Be happy

Be happy. Allow others to be happy. Even help them be happy when you can, without imposing. This is the meaning of life. To be fully and deeply happy we must see through the delusion, […]

It matters as much as what we do, as how we do it

It matters as much as what we do, as how we do it. Our attitude and intention for our actions (behavior, speech, and thoughts/feelings) set the tone for their consequences. This is karma. When we […]

Be silent; be present; be awake

We make things complicated. Actually, things are easy. We tend to over-think. We get distracted and cannot maintain focus. We get anxious and agitated. We forget to allow the mind and heart to settle and […]

Practicing to be a Bodhisattva

Practicing to be a Bodhisattva is honoring, respecting, and serving all sentient beings. We wish, and act to guide all of them to enlightenment. The worldly way of acting with others is to respond in […]

Nothing is solid and objectively real

“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.” When we awake from a dream, our dear friend in the dream vanishes. Reality is like that. […]

Having a genuine warm heart is a vast and profound practice

Having a genuine warm heart is a vast and profound practice. It embodies love and compassion, having sincere concern for the wellbeing of others. Additionally, it involves humility, the opposite of egocentricity. In this way […]

The motivation of Bodhicitta

Most of us have not been raised with the motivation of Bodhicitta. Those of us wanting to pursue this Mahayana Buddhist path must familiarize ourselves with Bodhicitta, the wish and action of becoming enlightened to […]

Living graciously in gratitude

Living graciously in gratitude allows life to sparkle from the inside. It focuses our experience through the lens of goodness and joy. It allows us to have optimistic hope, while maintaining a realistic backup plan […]