[Music] on the morning of December 23rd 1990
on the morning of December 23rd 1990
on the morning of December 23rd 1990 I made a commitment that rocked my world
I made a commitment that rocked my world
I made a commitment that rocked my world it forever changed the way I see myself
it forever changed the way I see myself
it forever changed the way I see myself and the world around me it was just
and the world around me it was just
and the world around me it was just after my 30th birthday and I took
after my 30th birthday and I took
after my 30th birthday and I took ordination as a Buddhist monk well a nun
ordination as a Buddhist monk well a nun
ordination as a Buddhist monk well a nun really I cut off my hair I put on the
really I cut off my hair I put on the
really I cut off my hair I put on the burgundy robes of a Tibetan monastic and
burgundy robes of a Tibetan monastic and
burgundy robes of a Tibetan monastic and for 15 years I studied and practiced
for 15 years I studied and practiced
for 15 years I studied and practiced immersed in traditions ancient and
immersed in traditions ancient and
immersed in traditions ancient and profound my new every day included deep
profound my new every day included deep
profound my new every day included deep resonant Tibetan chants drums and bells
resonant Tibetan chants drums and bells
resonant Tibetan chants drums and bells keeping time the distinct aroma of
keeping time the distinct aroma of
keeping time the distinct aroma of Eastern incense and in the shrine rooms
Eastern incense and in the shrine rooms
Eastern incense and in the shrine rooms silks and brocades in vibrant colours
silks and brocades in vibrant colours
silks and brocades in vibrant colours hanging there were images of the Buddha
hanging there were images of the Buddha
hanging there were images of the Buddha everywhere I had stepped into another
everywhere I had stepped into another
everywhere I had stepped into another world and I never even left the Maryland
world and I never even left the Maryland
world and I never even left the Maryland countryside I studied with Tibetan
countryside I studied with Tibetan
countryside I studied with Tibetan Buddhist masters in exile here in the
Buddhist masters in exile here in the
Buddhist masters in exile here in the United States and with Western Buddhist
United States and with Western Buddhist
United States and with Western Buddhist teachers born in America I had become
teachers born in America I had become
teachers born in America I had become part of a community of people committed
part of a community of people committed
part of a community of people committed to creating a more peaceful and
to creating a more peaceful and
to creating a more peaceful and compassionate world we studied ancient
compassionate world we studied ancient
compassionate world we studied ancient Buddhist philosophy contemporary
Buddhist philosophy contemporary
Buddhist philosophy contemporary mystical traditions metaphysics and
mystical traditions metaphysics and
mystical traditions metaphysics and physics from a quantum perspective blew
physics from a quantum perspective blew
physics from a quantum perspective blew my mind we meditated and studied and
my mind we meditated and studied and
my mind we meditated and studied and studied and meditated and do’t deep into
studied and meditated and do’t deep into
studied and meditated and do’t deep into our hearts now this was an interesting
our hearts now this was an interesting
our hearts now this was an interesting choice for an ordinary girl from an
choice for an ordinary girl from an
choice for an ordinary girl from an American suburb to make off goes the
American suburb to make off goes the
American suburb to make off goes the hair no makeup no jewelry no alcohol no
hair no makeup no jewelry no alcohol no
hair no makeup no jewelry no alcohol no sex there were a lot of noes no music no
sex there were a lot of noes no music no
sex there were a lot of noes no music no dancing and without the hair
dancing and without the hair
dancing and without the hair and wearing the robes we gave up a clear
and wearing the robes we gave up a clear
and wearing the robes we gave up a clear gender identity we all look the same the
gender identity we all look the same the
gender identity we all look the same the monks and the nuns I had become part of
monks and the nuns I had become part of
monks and the nuns I had become part of a community of renunciants but it wasn’t
a community of renunciants but it wasn’t
a community of renunciants but it wasn’t about doing without we were honing our
about doing without we were honing our
about doing without we were honing our focus we were removing distraction and
focus we were removing distraction and
focus we were removing distraction and turning our attention to a deeper
turning our attention to a deeper
turning our attention to a deeper practice we sought to see past the
practice we sought to see past the
practice we sought to see past the things that identify ourselves as
things that identify ourselves as
things that identify ourselves as individuals the things that we build ego
individuals the things that we build ego
individuals the things that we build ego on the things that we form attachments
on the things that we form attachments
on the things that we form attachments to a big house the fancy job the snappy
to a big house the fancy job the snappy
to a big house the fancy job the snappy wardrobe the things that encouraged the
wardrobe the things that encouraged the
wardrobe the things that encouraged the idea that we are all really different
idea that we are all really different
idea that we are all really different that some of us might even be better
that some of us might even be better
that some of us might even be better than others now we had all come to this
than others now we had all come to this
than others now we had all come to this path with our full-blown egos pride
path with our full-blown egos pride
path with our full-blown egos pride intact cultural familial conditioning
intact cultural familial conditioning
intact cultural familial conditioning lifetimes of habits and perceptions but
lifetimes of habits and perceptions but
lifetimes of habits and perceptions but we committed to focusing on our common
we committed to focusing on our common
we committed to focusing on our common humanity to seek to understand one
humanity to seek to understand one
humanity to seek to understand one another to collaborate rather than
another to collaborate rather than
another to collaborate rather than compete we were training we were
compete we were training we were
compete we were training we were training to see past the outer trappings
training to see past the outer trappings
training to see past the outer trappings and in to each other’s hearts and as we
and in to each other’s hearts and as we
and in to each other’s hearts and as we began to be able to see through the
began to be able to see through the
began to be able to see through the things that we judge about one another
things that we judge about one another
things that we judge about one another the things that we make right or wrong
the things that we make right or wrong
the things that we make right or wrong about one another we could see that we
about one another we could see that we
about one another we could see that we all have vulnerabilities and whether we
all have vulnerabilities and whether we
all have vulnerabilities and whether we liked each other or not whether we
liked each other or not whether we
liked each other or not whether we approved of each other or not we had the
approved of each other or not we had the
approved of each other or not we had the opportunity to love and care for one
opportunity to love and care for one
opportunity to love and care for one another
another
another anyway the moment-by-moment
anyway the moment-by-moment
anyway the moment-by-moment experiences of life became our spiritual
experiences of life became our spiritual
experiences of life became our spiritual practice and although my education is a
practice and although my education is a
practice and although my education is a nun whose great
nun whose great
nun whose great for me extraordinary really it’s not for
for me extraordinary really it’s not for
for me extraordinary really it’s not for everyone you don’t have to shave off
everyone you don’t have to shave off
everyone you don’t have to shave off your hair you don’t have to head off to
your hair you don’t have to head off to
your hair you don’t have to head off to a monastery the opportunities to
a monastery the opportunities to
a monastery the opportunities to practice the fundamental human values of
practice the fundamental human values of
practice the fundamental human values of patience loving-kindness self honesty
patience loving-kindness self honesty
patience loving-kindness self honesty compassion they can be found in the
compassion they can be found in the
compassion they can be found in the moment by moment choices of our everyday
moment by moment choices of our everyday
moment by moment choices of our everyday life the power to up lift our world and
life the power to up lift our world and
life the power to up lift our world and all the people in it including ourselves
all the people in it including ourselves
all the people in it including ourselves Isis right here in the palm of our hands
Isis right here in the palm of our hands
Isis right here in the palm of our hands like the power in the atom our power
like the power in the atom our power
like the power in the atom our power lies in the smallest of acts a single
lies in the smallest of acts a single
lies in the smallest of acts a single atom barely contains enough energy to do
atom barely contains enough energy to do
atom barely contains enough energy to do much of anything but you release the
much of anything but you release the
much of anything but you release the energy in one atom it activates the next
energy in one atom it activates the next
energy in one atom it activates the next and the next and the next until boom
and the next and the next until boom
and the next and the next until boom something so much greater than the
something so much greater than the
something so much greater than the individual parts is catalysed each one
individual parts is catalysed each one
individual parts is catalysed each one of us is a vibrant pulsating center of
of us is a vibrant pulsating center of
of us is a vibrant pulsating center of creation in the face of our changing
creation in the face of our changing
creation in the face of our changing world what are we doing with this
world what are we doing with this
world what are we doing with this magnificent creative power I’m an artist
magnificent creative power I’m an artist
magnificent creative power I’m an artist I sculpt I paint a dream a dream of a
I sculpt I paint a dream a dream of a
I sculpt I paint a dream a dream of a world at peace some would say the
world at peace some would say the
world at peace some would say the dreamers have their heads in the clouds
dreamers have their heads in the clouds
dreamers have their heads in the clouds but I will tell you that I believe with
but I will tell you that I believe with
but I will tell you that I believe with all my heart in the possibility of
all my heart in the possibility of
all my heart in the possibility of living in love with one another I
living in love with one another I
living in love with one another I believe it is possible to know the
believe it is possible to know the
believe it is possible to know the beauty within ourselves and to see it
beauty within ourselves and to see it
beauty within ourselves and to see it clearly in one another regardless of
clearly in one another regardless of
clearly in one another regardless of appearances
appearances
appearances this is a time of hope there are more
this is a time of hope there are more
this is a time of hope there are more people alive today engaged in
people alive today engaged in
people alive today engaged in conversations about peace and compassion
conversations about peace and compassion
conversations about peace and compassion then there have ever been before they
then there have ever been before they
then there have ever been before they with the internet we’re reaching around
with the internet we’re reaching around
with the internet we’re reaching around the globe with the increasing number of
the globe with the increasing number of
the globe with the increasing number of social media platforms we can see each
social media platforms we can see each
social media platforms we can see each other we’re talking to each other we are
other we’re talking to each other we are
other we’re talking to each other we are connecting and what are we finding we
connecting and what are we finding we
connecting and what are we finding we are finding that we share so much more
are finding that we share so much more
are finding that we share so much more in common than we are different we all
in common than we are different we all
in common than we are different we all want to be happy we all want to be free
want to be happy we all want to be free
want to be happy we all want to be free of our pain and our fear we all want to
of our pain and our fear we all want to
of our pain and our fear we all want to be loved can we can we take the time to
be loved can we can we take the time to
be loved can we can we take the time to understand one another
understand one another
understand one another can we create a world motivated by
can we create a world motivated by
can we create a world motivated by loving kindness and compassion I say yes
loving kindness and compassion I say yes
loving kindness and compassion I say yes I say yes of course we can human beings
I say yes of course we can human beings
I say yes of course we can human beings are amazing creatures we are wildly
are amazing creatures we are wildly
are amazing creatures we are wildly creative we are incredibly industrious
creative we are incredibly industrious
creative we are incredibly industrious and ever so clever I believe it’s up to
and ever so clever I believe it’s up to
and ever so clever I believe it’s up to the individual I also believe it begins
the individual I also believe it begins
the individual I also believe it begins with the small things I’d like to invite
with the small things I’d like to invite
with the small things I’d like to invite you to join me in adopting three small
you to join me in adopting three small
you to join me in adopting three small practices that can add up to a literal
practices that can add up to a literal
practices that can add up to a literal tsunami of change number one activate
tsunami of change number one activate
tsunami of change number one activate the pause the pause a temporary
the pause the pause a temporary
the pause the pause a temporary interruption of thought speech or action
interruption of thought speech or action
interruption of thought speech or action pause creates a space a space in our
pause creates a space a space in our
pause creates a space a space in our mind what is space in our mind a space
mind what is space in our mind a space
mind what is space in our mind a space in our mind is the gap between something
in our mind is the gap between something
in our mind is the gap between something that occurs and our reaction to it
that occurs and our reaction to it
that occurs and our reaction to it in the gap is a moment of choice a
in the gap is a moment of choice a
in the gap is a moment of choice a choice that can be informed by our
choice that can be informed by our
choice that can be informed by our values rather than our reactive patterns
values rather than our reactive patterns
values rather than our reactive patterns of mind there was a time when I could be
of mind there was a time when I could be
of mind there was a time when I could be traveling through the parking lot of the
traveling through the parking lot of the
traveling through the parking lot of the grocery store and someone suddenly cut
grocery store and someone suddenly cut
grocery store and someone suddenly cut me off ah my fist is in the air my heart
me off ah my fist is in the air my heart
me off ah my fist is in the air my heart rate goes up stress hormones are
rate goes up stress hormones are
rate goes up stress hormones are released my mind is tight me yes
released my mind is tight me yes
released my mind is tight me yes but pause I become present in the space
but pause I become present in the space
but pause I become present in the space I find patience and compassion maybe
I find patience and compassion maybe
I find patience and compassion maybe they are distracted by a myriad of
they are distracted by a myriad of
they are distracted by a myriad of life’s vicissitudes maybe their wife is
life’s vicissitudes maybe their wife is
life’s vicissitudes maybe their wife is having a baby and they’re trying to get
having a baby and they’re trying to get
having a baby and they’re trying to get to the hospital or maybe they’re just
to the hospital or maybe they’re just
to the hospital or maybe they’re just not paying attention but as I pause I
not paying attention but as I pause I
not paying attention but as I pause I breathe as I become present I remember
breathe as I become present I remember
breathe as I become present I remember our common humanity I seek to understand
our common humanity I seek to understand
our common humanity I seek to understand I hold space for peace now of course we
I hold space for peace now of course we
I hold space for peace now of course we may be saying that’s easier said than
may be saying that’s easier said than
may be saying that’s easier said than done and that is so true because
done and that is so true because
done and that is so true because sometimes that space it’s about this big
sometimes that space it’s about this big
sometimes that space it’s about this big so we practice number two notice the
so we practice number two notice the
so we practice number two notice the beauty when we first wake up in the
beauty when we first wake up in the
beauty when we first wake up in the morning what are we aware of are we
morning what are we aware of are we
morning what are we aware of are we present that a gift of a new day what do
present that a gift of a new day what do
present that a gift of a new day what do we see what are we here how does a
we see what are we here how does a
we see what are we here how does a pillow feel how many of the experiences
pillow feel how many of the experiences
pillow feel how many of the experiences of our everyday it lost on the backdrop
of our everyday it lost on the backdrop
of our everyday it lost on the backdrop of our life as we dial in the busy are
of our life as we dial in the busy are
of our life as we dial in the busy are we dialing out the beautiful beauty of
we dialing out the beautiful beauty of
we dialing out the beautiful beauty of lifts it inspires it brings us present
lifts it inspires it brings us present
lifts it inspires it brings us present beauty conjures feelings of happiness
beauty conjures feelings of happiness
beauty conjures feelings of happiness even hope beauty is everywhere
even hope beauty is everywhere
even hope beauty is everywhere beauty is in people
beauty is in people
beauty is in people it’s in places in form and function in
it’s in places in form and function in
it’s in places in form and function in concept the simple elegance of a calla
concept the simple elegance of a calla
concept the simple elegance of a calla lily or the complexity of nature itself
lily or the complexity of nature itself
lily or the complexity of nature itself I’m in the arts I’m surrounded by a lot
I’m in the arts I’m surrounded by a lot
I’m in the arts I’m surrounded by a lot of beautiful I see the work of a lot of
of beautiful I see the work of a lot of
of beautiful I see the work of a lot of different artists at first glance I
different artists at first glance I
different artists at first glance I might not be drawn in but if I will take
might not be drawn in but if I will take
might not be drawn in but if I will take a moment there is always something
a moment there is always something
a moment there is always something beautiful in a piece of work whether it
beautiful in a piece of work whether it
beautiful in a piece of work whether it is the choice of a color the use of a
is the choice of a color the use of a
is the choice of a color the use of a line the intention behind the stroke of
line the intention behind the stroke of
line the intention behind the stroke of a brush each one of us is a unique
a brush each one of us is a unique
a brush each one of us is a unique expression of beautiful what if we were
expression of beautiful what if we were
expression of beautiful what if we were to consistently notice the beautiful in
to consistently notice the beautiful in
to consistently notice the beautiful in each other whether it’s somebody that
each other whether it’s somebody that
each other whether it’s somebody that you’re just meeting or somebody that you
you’re just meeting or somebody that you
you’re just meeting or somebody that you may see every day a co-worker or a
may see every day a co-worker or a
may see every day a co-worker or a spouse and if you dare tell them about
spouse and if you dare tell them about
spouse and if you dare tell them about it they may just be missing the
it they may just be missing the
it they may just be missing the beautiful in themselves and number three
beautiful in themselves and number three
beautiful in themselves and number three number three is a natural antidepressant
number three is a natural antidepressant
number three is a natural antidepressant it relieves stress it helps us stay
it relieves stress it helps us stay
it relieves stress it helps us stay positive look more confident and
positive look more confident and
positive look more confident and generally feel good fake or real the
generally feel good fake or real the
generally feel good fake or real the effect is the same smiling we naturally
effect is the same smiling we naturally
effect is the same smiling we naturally smile when we feel happy and research
smile when we feel happy and research
smile when we feel happy and research has shown that the reverse is true would
has shown that the reverse is true would
has shown that the reverse is true would we smile it makes us feel happy as
we smile it makes us feel happy as
we smile it makes us feel happy as anything here recently spent time with a
anything here recently spent time with a
anything here recently spent time with a baby human beings will go to incredible
baby human beings will go to incredible
baby human beings will go to incredible lengths to make a baby smile won’t we
lengths to make a baby smile won’t we
lengths to make a baby smile won’t we and when that baby does smile it’s as
and when that baby does smile it’s as
and when that baby does smile it’s as though it has lit up from within you can
though it has lit up from within you can
though it has lit up from within you can feel the joy rising in the child as you
feel the joy rising in the child as you
feel the joy rising in the child as you feel it rising in yourself smiles are
feel it rising in yourself smiles are
feel it rising in yourself smiles are contagious smile and other smile with
contagious smile and other smile with
contagious smile and other smile with you smiles connect us they’re generous
you smiles connect us they’re generous
you smiles connect us they’re generous they’re kind they change things and one
they’re kind they change things and one
they’re kind they change things and one of the most important smiles is the one
of the most important smiles is the one
of the most important smiles is the one we give ourselves next time you catch
we give ourselves next time you catch
we give ourselves next time you catch your reflection in the mirror pause look
your reflection in the mirror pause look
your reflection in the mirror pause look yourself right in the eye
yourself right in the eye
yourself right in the eye notice something beautiful and give
notice something beautiful and give
notice something beautiful and give yourself a wink and a smile
yourself a wink and a smile
yourself a wink and a smile activate the pause notice the beautiful
activate the pause notice the beautiful
activate the pause notice the beautiful and smile small acts immeasurable
and smile small acts immeasurable
and smile small acts immeasurable benefit yes we can create a world
benefit yes we can create a world
benefit yes we can create a world motivated by loving kindness and
motivated by loving kindness and
motivated by loving kindness and compassion one act of patience inspires
compassion one act of patience inspires
compassion one act of patience inspires another a single act of kindness invites
another a single act of kindness invites
another a single act of kindness invites the next we set in motion a chain
the next we set in motion a chain
the next we set in motion a chain reaction like releasing the energy in
reaction like releasing the energy in
reaction like releasing the energy in the atom together we can create a
the atom together we can create a
the atom together we can create a literal tsunami of change if I want
literal tsunami of change if I want
literal tsunami of change if I want there to be more love in the world if I
there to be more love in the world if I
there to be more love in the world if I want to be loved I would love more if I
want to be loved I would love more if I
want to be loved I would love more if I want there to be more patience and
want there to be more patience and
want there to be more patience and understanding I will be more patient and
understanding I will be more patient and
understanding I will be more patient and understanding more kindness I will
understanding more kindness I will
understanding more kindness I will simply be kind as we open our hearts
simply be kind as we open our hearts
simply be kind as we open our hearts as we take responsibility for the
as we take responsibility for the
as we take responsibility for the awesome power that lives in each of us
awesome power that lives in each of us
awesome power that lives in each of us we become the hope for our world thank
we become the hope for our world thank
we become the hope for our world thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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