Monica Breen Monica Breen

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

Notice the sacredness of where you are. The mysteriousness of where you are. This is a different notion of indigeneity altogether – not a provincialism, nativism or exoticism that objectifies identity, but a living breathing vocation of noticing the enchantment that is around us, in us, with us, wherever we are. We must rejoin the mysterious, material unfolding of the world.” [ link ]

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Monica Breen Monica Breen

WHY MEDITATION ISN’T ENGOUH

“As Vasubandhu says, our studies must be based on a wholesome, disciplined lifestyle.” A practice like yoga or meditation needs a framework of 1.) community support 2.) philosophical context like the Buddhist “ten unwholesome acts”, yoga’s yamas and niyamas, or the ethics/virtues of your particular religion (like the ten commandments); 3.) a teacher to support and encourage [ link ]


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Monica Breen Monica Breen

5 Buddhist Practices to Help Tackle Climate Change

As we grapple with our new reality, contemplative practice can offer techniques for holding these challenging truths…Spiritual practices are not alternatives to swift, wise action. They are complementary disciplines to education and activism. Spiritual resources can help us move from desperation to sustainable activism. [ link }

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Monica Breen Monica Breen

YOGA PHILOSOPHY for WESTERN YOGA TEACHERS

This may feel like new territory for many Western yoga teachers. It places yoga philosophy in context of systemic, cultural and societal issues. It asks us to see things from the non-dominant culture’s perspective, and outside of capitalism. [ link ]

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Monica Breen Monica Breen

SURPRISING lINK BETWEEN URBAN NATURE and HUMAN WELL BEING

Human health and earth’s health is inextricably linked. An eye opening interview that makes a case for spending everyday time with nature, and ideas for prioritizing access to natural spaces through business, organizations and institutions . “We have found that having contact with nature in the everyday environment is just as important as making special trips to more iconic natural locations.” [ link ]


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Monica Breen Monica Breen

MEDITATION AS A SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY

“In Tibetan Buddhism there’s something called idiot compassion which says that you must never allow your compassion to make you a victim….Once you’ve liberated yourself from reactivity, once you’re able to separate yourself from your emotions and watch them come and go like clouds in the sky, you discover your fearlessness.” [ link ]

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Monica Breen Monica Breen

BEFORE WE REINVENT THE ECONOMY WE MUST REINVENT OURSELVES

I urge you to read this article. “To transform our inner nature, it’s not enough we shift our mind-set; we must shift our consciousness. We must come out of our unconscious mode of existence and become more conscious in how we produce, consume, work, relate, and live.” [ link ]

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