Last weekend we had our annual Internal Retreat at Mt. Baldy Zen Center. We had an amazing time practicing Tai Chi and meditating in nature. Here are some of the lessons that stand out for me. Silence at the Internal Retreat This year at out Internal Retreat we did 24 hours of silence starting Friday night and lasting until dinner on Saturday. Most people on Internal Retreat dreaded being in total silence.

While having a spiritual ritual or martial arts class helps us get past our small self, it is possible to experience higher states of consciousness in everyday life. Take a lesson from the whirling dervish; dance wherever you are and listen to the divine in the flow that ensues. 

This week’s question is about integrity: What part of my life doesn't reflect who I am or want to be? Reflection Some of us may feel personally attacked by this question. We don’t like thinking of how we may be falling short of our goals, nor do we like facing how we aren’t being true to ourselves. For a human being it can be very confronting to ask these questions. Yet just

we must strive to become masters of our actions rather than prisoners of our reactions

Last week’s question in the dojo was, “When you think of home, specifically, what do you think of?” When I think of home, I first think of the physical place I am most often when I’m not at the dojo and I think of the feeling of comfort I get by being there. I also think of the people who make me feel at home. Then, I think of how lucky