MSI Press Blog

  Gravity is one of the most fundamental forces of nature.  If you remove it, you are left with gravy. The following is a guest post from Arthur Yavelberg, author of the highly regarded book,   A Theology for the Rest of Us ,  No, no quote from Rumi or passage from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Even so, every mystic, as far as I know, expresses a deep gratitude for the presence of the Divine in all that is.  So, seventh grader at heart that I am, I caught myself laughing quite heartily at this. I dismissed it as just another example of my sophomoric nature. I even had the thought of how silly, maybe even insensitive, it was in the context of a world of such horrific suffering--suffering that has gone on for years and years and years and years.  But then I realized that I not only laughed, but that I am deeply grateful for the laughter and the ability to laugh. Of course, that does not minimize the suffering. As the comedian, Jim Gaffigan, observes: "Laughte...

  Today's meditation from  Weekly Soul: Fifty-two Meditations on Meaningful, Joyful, and Peaceful Living   by Dr. Frederic Craigie. -16-   An Apache myth tells of how the creator endowed human beings, the two-leggeds, with the ability to do everything—talk, run, see, and hear. But he was not satisfied until the two-leggeds could do just one thing more—laugh. And so men and women laughed and laughed and laughed. Then the creator said, “Now you are fit to live.”   Larry Dossey   Laughter vitalizes the soul. In the Navajo (or Diné) tradition, there is a sacred and joyful celebration of the First Laugh. When babies are born, they are understood to be part of two worlds: the Spirit world and the physical world. A baby’s first laughter, often at around three months, is a sign of their transition to being fully present in the physical world as a member of their family and community.   The person who observes or elicits the first laugh… whose character is cons...

  Today's meditation from  Weekly Soul: Fifty-two Meditations on Meaningful, Joyful, and Peaceful Living   by Dr. Frederic Craigie. -14-   Throughout life, keep asking yourself, “What would I do right now, in this situation, if I were guided by my life purpose? What would I be doing differently at this moment?” The more mindful you are of your life purpose, the greater its impact will be on your life and the lives of those you care about.   Matthew McKay, John Forsyth, Georg Eifert   When I work with groups, I often begin with a mindful walking exercise. I give them Thich Nhat Hanh’s instructions for walking meditation;   Take short steps in complete relaxation; go slowly with a smile on your lips, with your heart open to an experience of peace.    … and invite them to get up from their seats, leave the room, and return to their seats in a spirit of mindful walking. The very first time I began a teaching session with a mindful walking exerci...