d to instant gratification, which is a luxury in this country, but I didn’t get it. How I stayed with meditation, I’ll never know. Then when small changes began to appear in me, I never connected them with the meditation, but connected them with other, more immediate and exciting things that were happening in my life. Yet I kept meditating.

They say that kar

For a moment, let’s assume that Global Warming is not happening. Still, we would be well advised to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. But if Global Warming actually is a reality, and history will prove this one way or the other, then by limiting our use of fossil fuels, we will be doing a great thing for our kids, and their kids. This would be a very selfless thing to do, quite the opposite of continuing to consume oil mindlessly.

Oil causes pollution, this is not a theory, and reducing pollution is good for all of us. The economy will not suffer if we begin living more moderately regarding our appetite for oil, and we might even regard ourselves to be better people, more compassionate and wise. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do all of this without feeling deprived?

When I meditate, it’s usually in a room with only a candle. No lights, no TV, no stereo; just the cushion and me. I don’t need a fancy house, or big car, just a candle and a cushion. I no longer need a high powered job, or have to commute long distances for a special career; I have a local job now . . . and I’m happier. I don’t consume as much as I used to, and it doesn’t seem to be hurting the economy too much. In addition, I find that the courage I am developing allows me to look beyond my personal wants a little, and consider the welfare of all of us.

Meditation is a strange thing. When I began, I expected immediate results, maybe because I was so used to instant gratification, which is a luxury in this country, but I didn’t get it. How I stayed with meditation, I’ll never know. Then when small changes began to appear in me, I never connected them with the meditation, but connected them with other, more immediate and exciting things that were happening in my life. Yet I kept meditating.

They say that karm

s thing to do, quite the opposite of continuing to consume oil mindlessly.

Oil causes pollution, this is not a theory, and reducing pollution is good for all of us. The economy will not suffer if we begin living more moderately regarding our appetite for oil, and we might even regard ourselves to be better people, more compassionate and wise. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do all of this without feeling deprived?

When I meditate, it’s usually in a room with only a candle. No lights, no TV, no stereo; just the cushion and me. I don’t need a fancy house, or big car, just a candle and a cushion. I no longer need a high powered job, or have to commute long distances for a special career; I have a local job now . . . and I’m happier. I don’t consume as much as I used to, and it doesn’t seem to be hurting the economy too much. In addition, I find that the courage I am developing allows me to look beyond my personal wants a little, and consider the welfare of all of us.

Meditation is a strange thing. When I began, I expected immediate results, maybe because I was so used to instant gratification, which is a luxury in this country, but I didn’t get it. How I stayed with meditation, I’ll never know. Then when small changes began to appear in me, I never connected them with the meditation, but connected them with other, more immediate and exciting things that were happening in my life. Yet I kept meditating.

They say that kar

nice if we could do all of this without feeling deprived?

When I meditate, it’s usually in a room with only a candle. No lights, no TV, no stereo; just the cushion and me. I don’t need a fancy house, or big car, just a candle and a cushion. I no longer need a high powered job, or have to commute long distances for a special career; I have a local job now . . . and I’m happier. I don’t consume as much as I used to, and it doesn’t seem to be hurting the economy too much. In addition, I find that the courage I am developing allows me to look beyond my personal wants a little, and consider the welfare of all of us.

Meditation is a strange thing. When I began, I expected immediate results, maybe because I was so used to instant gratification, which is a luxury in this country, but I didn’t get it. How I stayed with meditation, I’ll never know. Then when small changes began to appear in me, I never connected them with the meditation, but connected them with other, more immediate and exciting things that were happening in my life. Yet I kept meditating.

They say that kar

. and I’m happier. I don’t consume as much as I used to, and it doesn’t seem to be hurting the economy too much. In addition, I find that the courage I am developing allows me to look beyond my personal wants a little, and consider the welfare of all of us.

Meditation is a strange thing. When I began, I expected immediate results, maybe because I was so used to instant gratification, which is a luxury in this country, but I didn’t get it. How I stayed with meditation, I’ll never know. Then when small changes began to appear in me, I never connected them with the meditation, but connected them with other, more immediate and exciting things that were happening in my life. Yet I kept meditating.

They say that kar

d to instant gratification, which is a luxury in this country, but I didn’t get it. How I stayed with meditation, I’ll never know. Then when small changes began to appear in me, I never connected them with the meditation, but connected them with other, more immediate and exciting things that were happening in my life. Yet I kept meditating.

They say that karma decides who can meditate and who can’t. I’m not sure of this. But I know that ninety-five percent of the people I’ve known who began practicing have fallen by the wayside. I can’t blame them, the benefits are so delayed and subtle in many ways, and the lures of the world are so promising. But I know for myself that meditation has somehow made me a better citizen of the world.

It’s not that I ever wanted to be a good citizen; I was out for myself like everyone else. But for some reason I kept meditating, maybe because I believed my teachers when they said that meditation will make all the difference. After awhile, many of the things that I relied on for my happiness changed. A little spot in my heart started to grow, and as it did, it somehow moved aside many of the selfish things I did before. Things slipped away, and I wasn’t sad when they did, I actually began to feel free, freer in my six-year old Corolla now than I did in my new Chrysler at one time. I didn't feel that I was sacrificing anything, except perhaps my complete misunderstanding of what life should be about.

I never planned to simplify my life and my needs . . . they just became not as important, not vital. The vitality that I was beginning to feel had nothing to do with wants, and everything to do with not wanting. I didn’t set a goal to not want, it just happened gradually. I feel better about myself now, even though I don’t have as much. A kind of freedom dev