‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’ – How Jesus and the Buddha Remind us of the Power of Wisdom and Compassion in Times of Confusion

8 minutes reading time  'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do' (Luke 23:33 - 34). As Jesus was about to be crucified he spoke these famous, powerful words. It is hard to find a more potent example of embodied love and compassion – a man asking for forgiveness for those who …

Working With The Gold-Thoughts on Spiritual Freedom. Part 3 of 3: Relationship to Other Beliefs. The Balance Between Withdrawal and Engagement.

8 minutes reading time Relationship to Other Beliefs If we experience a particular teaching or religion as liberating then there is no cause for feeling threatened by other beliefs. We can rejoice in somebody else's faith, even if it is not the same as 'ours', when we see that the teachings they follow lead to …

Please Call Me by My True Names – A Beautiful Poem by Thich Nhat Hanh with Big Relevance for the Current State of the World

Today I would like to share one of my favourite poems by Thich Nhat Hanh. The world is in desperate need for dialogue and, most importantly, compassion. There are far too many wars being faught, both with weapons and words. This will not stop until we start listening to those we perceive as opponents. Peace …