Just like waves in the ocean, the cyclical push/pull of forces within our orbit and friction and at the surface of our lives transmit energy through us, but are not us. Mindfulness can help us contact the refuge of stillness and silence that is ever present deep beneath the surface, when we’re awakened to it and if we practice how to access it.

Radical compassion means nothing and nobody is excluded from the circle of kindness. The best evidence shows its good for us individually and as a society, but it can be difficult for us to trust given US mainstream cultural conditioning. Cultivating radical compassion takes courage and persistence, but when collectively practiced, it can become a powerful force for personal and societal transformation.

There is an unending interplay of complex circumstances behind any given situation and we may never be able to work out completely the confluence of factors that allow certain events to germinate. A mindfulness practice helps us understand and remember this, which in turn allows us to remain open to experience. We see things more clearly and make time for consideration of a skillful response rather than being caught up in strong emotions arising from interpretations and expectations.

Mindfulness can help us keep our calm even in the face of great challenge and difficulty.