Curiosity may be our most important tool on the spiritual path. It is the mark of Beginner’s Mind, allowing us to open to new information, insight and guidance. When we are curious about ourselves, the world, and our relationship to it, we begin to pay attention and to live a life of intention. Curiosity helps open us to more loving and intimate relationships, as when we are truly interested and really listen, we avoid making harmful assumptions and allow ourselves to know others in more meaningful ways.

One big block to the spiritual path is expertise. When we think or assume we know, we unconsciously close our minds to new information, points of view, and potentially helpful tools. Sometimes “maybe” could be just what is called for in the moment, while we wait for the Divine to reveal more.

Likewise we are always saying no in ways we may not be aware of, and may even be saying “yes” when we mean “no,” adding undue stress and complication to our lives. This is a world where “no” needs to be said, but we don’t have to arm ourselves to do it. With practice and awareness, we can learn to keep our hearts open, stay loving and do what we are called to do (and not do what we are not) without putting people out of our hearts.

To live each day is to say yes over and over again to events, people and unasked questions as they unfold in time, as we cooperate the universe in conscious and unconscious ways. “Yes” can be a way of adding to life instead of subtracting. And yet, we may be saying “no” to our good sometimes without being aware of it? Let’s learn to use “yes” as an intentional spiritual practice.

The earth is our mother. She “birthed” us and we are dependent on her generous bounty for our very breath and food and LIFE. And we have a tendency to live as if that were not true. How can we in 21st century America respect Mother Earth and continue to live in the modern world?

In Buddhism, happiness is considered not only the goal, but the duty of spiritual practitioners. In the West, where we observe our culture to pursue pleasure and prosperity at almost any price, spiritual people can be somewhat suspicious of happiness as a goal. What does happiness actually mean, in the Eastern concept, and how can we find and pursue it as a real spiritual good?

I believe all religions started from real mystical experience—a time when a person or group of people had a true encounter with the Divine, and wanted to share it. Then, in trying to translate experience into language, the essence inevitably gets lost. Eventually a priestly caste is created of those who “know” teaching those who “don’t” by creating rules and codes of conduct and setting themselves up as judges and intercessors. Is it possible to keep what is pure and good and let go of what doesn’t serve? To keep the baby, and throw out the bathwater?