Between my Buddhist home and Jesuit schooling, I grew up in two worlds – a world where life and self belonged to nature in an interconnected universe and on the other hand, a world of an all powerful God in the heavens above. 

Buddhism taught me responsibility for myself and the foundation of the breath to develop mindfulness in thought, word and deed.  Christianity gave me solace of a God to guide me and forgive me for my indiscretions.    

Learning to live comfortably…

Last week I was at an inspiring meeting in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  A dozen of us gathered from different parts of the US to continue an exploration of common ground.  There's a confluence happening.  Especially over the last decade people have been working with different words to explore the same questions: How do we create healthy communities?  Communities where happiness is pursued, not  consumption.  Communities where people live with the graceful…