When Dogen, a great Zen Master of old, returned to Japan after many years of studying Zen in China, the people asked what he brought with him to help others who were suffering, he said, “I’ve come with nothing but empty hands” What are these empty hands

Loneliness is one of the great sufferings of our times Despite our being constantly on-line, tuned in, the heart needs human contact and warmth

When pain and hard times come into our lives, (whether emotionally or physically) we usually tense up to fight our problems, try to figure a solution, and depend upon our logical minds We feel we must overpower our problems with our expertise

Everyone wants love and yet today it seems more difficult than ever to know how to build a lasting relationship and find the fulfillment we desire In many circles, traditional relationships and commitment are a thing of the past

No matter what is happening around us, we do not have to react impulsively, but can learn to respond Giving into automatic negative reactions can become addictive and it’s important to learn how to diffuse them

Today we are living in a world where conflict is raging out of control and all are seeking ways of making peace, resolving conflict in the world, their families and personal relationships The practices of both Judaism and Zen, have time tested practices which lead us to become balanced, positive and clear, no matter what is going on

Today a great spiritual hunger is surfacing as many seek comfort, support, and meaning in a world that has spun out of control Yet, times of loneliness, confusion, fear, or separation come for a powerful reason—so we can stop our usual way of being and discover where true strength, connection, and understanding lie

So much hurt and pain arises from our feeling of having been betrayed Not only does this undercut the foundation of our relationships, but it can cause us to lose trust in ourselves

There are many factors which contribute to creating win-win relationships, but one of the most powerful ones is to understand and practice the power of acknowledgment Acknowledgment means the willingness to offer honest, positive feedback to another about what they are doing and how it is affecting you