December: A season for cultivating joy through simplicity and gratitude…

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Shuba

December has come to be one of my favorite months…Perhaps it is the anticipation of snow, the excitement of the holiday season and the colors of red and white…Or the joy of thinking of loved ones and what they would like for presents, the twinkling lights on the streets or the Christmas music…I love the holiday movies (that always end well!), baking treats, making chocolate bark with my daughter or stringing beads together to create unique pieces and lighting up our Christmas tree.

I’m well aware that this is a highly commercialized season, where we are constantly bombarded to go out and get more, to buy our way into happiness and stoke the craving for more. But it doesn’t have to be.

December is also the month of solstice, of quieting down, finding warmth and solace in the loving qualities of the heart like generosity, gratitude and appreciation, and of celebrating being together and sharing laughter and memories. Of being intentional of what we do and say, of being mindful of our resources and how we spend them. We can start small, and take that first step towards reigning back the momentum of habit, by inviting mindfulness and appreciating the simple beauty of this season. We can create boundaries with our time, finances and energy that protect us from over-exertion and help us cultivate nourishment and peace.

So, the next time that you are outside, slow down and notice the coolness of the air, the movement of the trees, the sound of the birds, the spectacular colors of the sunrises and the sunsets, and the twinkling of the stars in the cold still nights. When running errands, take in the sounds, smells, tastes and sights. When in grocery lines or traffic, practice sending metta towards others: wishing that they too have joy and peace in their holiday season. When frustrated, remember patience and kindness. When overwhelmed, remember the support of the ground and the breath. When entangled in clinging, remember to pause and relax.

I write this as much as a reminder to me as to you. For we need the support of each other to awaken together and live with greater compassion, wisdom and kindness. I leave you today with this winter blessing from Brother David Steindl-Rast:

May You Grow Still Enough

May you grow still enough to hear the small noises earth makes in preparing for the long sleep of winter, so that you yourself may grow calm and grounded deep within.

May you grow still enough to hear the trickling of water seeping into the ground, so that your soul may be softened and healed, and guided in its flow. May you grow still enough to hear the splintering of starlight in the winter sky and the roar at earth’s fiery core.

May you grow still enough to hear the stir of a single snowflake in the air, so that your inner silence may turn into hushed expectation.

— Brother David Steindl-Rast

Wishing you love, peace, laughter and joy, Shuba

Cultivating restraint as a doorway to abundance…

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Shuba

I love the month of December! It is a month that evokes the sentiments of celebrating snow, the people in our lives and the merriment of the holiday season. I also often find myself overwhelmed in the month of December. Any budget I set during this month quickly goes out the window and watching holiday movies and indulging in treats often leave me depleted. The word that best describes this month for me is excess. And what better time to practice restraint!? The best way we can learn the timely cultivation of balance and restraint is when we come directly face to face with overwhelm. So where and how do we start?

We start right here. where we are. By grounding in the body. Feeling the sensations of feet touching the ground. Pausing the activity. Softening and relaxing. And by reconnecting with our intention. We remember what is important. we remember the gifts that are already present in our lives. We appreciate the relationships that nourish us. We take the time to do a gratitude inventory each day as the botanist and writer Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us. And we rejoice in the present moment and all that it has to offer – including the anxiety and overwhelm. Nothing needs to be pushed away – everything can be welcome and seen and let go of. And in this way, we move closer to freedom. I leave you with one of my favorites:

Humble living does not diminish. It fills.
Going back to a simpler self gives wisdom.

When a man makes up a story for his child,
he becomes a father and a child
together, listening.

~Rumi

With love, S.

Reflecting on Lineage in Meditation Practice…

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Shuba

Recently, an aspect of practice that has been helpful to me has been reflecting on lineage. This has been true both in my personal practice as well as professional life. As an educator, I’ve been very aware that I’m following in the footsteps of countless wise educators before me. Similarly, in my meditation practice, I’ve been very aware of the fact that I’m following in the footsteps of those who have walked this path for thousands of years before me.

In a recent group with dharma friends, we were reading one of the middle length suttas (MN 100) in which we came across the story of Dhananjani, who tripped and expressed spontaneously homage to the Buddha, the awakened one. I have chanted this traditional homage so many times – and this was once chanted by Dhananjani too – in a different place at a different time! In that moment, I felt this incredible connection with Dhananjani – one that transcended space and time.

When we reflect on our lineage, on those who have supported us, and have walked the path before us, and with us, we feel ourselves belonging to something larger than a small self. A spaciousness opens up, this tremendous felt sense that we are not alone. A touch of awe for all the causes and conditions that have brought these practices to us. And a commitment to practice not just for our benefit but the benefit of others as well.

And this awareness can support us in those difficult moments when wisdom feels elusive: maybe it is elusive to the small self but not to this large spacious awareness that has the voices of all the practitioners before us. The love, the wisdom, the compassion increasingly becomes available to us because we too belong. We belong right here, in this moment, with all our struggles, hopes and despairs, joys and triumphs, pain and loss. And we are not alone. We can surrender more easily our agendas and stories into this vast loving presence that is empty of self. Rumi says this eloquently:

I saw you and became that empty.
This emptiness, more beautiful than existence,
it obliterates existence, and yet when it comes,
existence thrives and creates more existence.

So we can turn our attention towards this existence that has humility, gratitude and tenderness. Turning our attention towards what nourishes us and sustains us is wise effort – and we know that where we place our attention matters. It does not mean we deny what is difficult or challenging. But there is just a bit more space – for ease, belonging and connection with the present moment.

So the journey goes on,
and no one knows where.

Just to be held by the ocean
is the best luck we could have.
It is a total waking up.

Why should we grieve that we have been sleeping?
It does not matter how long we have been unconscious.

We are groggy, but let the guilt go.
Feel the motions of tenderness around you.

-Rumi

May you feel the motions of tenderness around you and may many blessings continue to unfold in your life!

With love, Shuba.

ps: And if you are interested in practicing with me, consider joining me for the upcoming mindfulness session this Saturday. You can find details here.

Cultivating an attitude of Enoughness…

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Shuba

As we enter the month of March, my thoughts have turned towards gratitude. This is partly because I am in need of inspiration and gratitude never fails to inspire! What surprises me each time with this practice is how gratitude has the power to change our perspective; it’s like seeing the world with a whole new lens, one that is more forgiving, appreciative and encouraging.

Photo by Yuliia Patrikhalkina on Pexels.com

The catalyst for this practice for me was noticing a feeling of being pressed for time and being pulled in different directions – both at work and life. As I noticed an increasing anxiety and yearning for balance, this thought arose in me – what if I approached life with a sense of enough-ness? What if I have enough time, enough energy, enough resources and enough love to show up for my life? How might my perspective shift?

This inquiry has led to a relaxing in the ordinary moments and an appreciation of the simple things. When a text message comes, instead of feeling the pressure of responding, I feel grateful that someone was thinking of me. During quiet moments, instead of being in the planning mode, I am able to listen to the sound of rain and birds and appreciate the stillness underneath. Instead of chasing more – more time for yoga or meditation, I am able to rejoice in the moments when I do show up. Instead of judging my choices to watch Korean drama or indulge in a murder mystery, I am able to appreciate my own imperfections.

When I come from a place of enough-ness, I am able to receive the gifts from others in an open hearted way and better able to offer my loving presence to others. My cup feels full!

Is there a place of enough-ness that you can find for yourself as you navigate through your life? What supports you in staying present and connected to gratitude? What moments open your heart to wonder?

I leave you today with a quote that I heard through a dear friend, from Rachel Naomi Remen on On Being:

“What if we were exactly what’s needed? What then? How would I live if I was exactly what’s needed to heal the world? These are very important questions.”
Rachel Naomi Remen

Be well and take good care! And if any of these words resonate, please drop me a reply.

With love, Shuba.

Attune to Emergence…

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Shuba

It has been a while since I wrote in this space. As a high school teacher, the first couple of months of the school year is a busy time for me – getting through the first quarter of school schedule. And somehow, now that November is here, I am able to breathe a bit more easily – knowing that Thanksgiving break is around the corner.

A lot has happened in these couple of months in terms of writing and teaching. Firstly, my reflections from retreat this summer was published in the Valley Insight newsletter, thanks to the support and encouragement of my teacher and friend Doreen Schweizer. And then, it was picked up by the Barre center of Buddhist Studies (BCBS) and published in their sangha newsletter with my permission. This came about because the BCBS director receives our very own Valley Insight newsletter! This was definitely a surprising event – both in how this unfolded and what a small and connected world we live in. You can find it here, reprinted exactly from ours.

Earlier this Fall, I felt some sadness – the momentum of my learning and teaching during my teacher certification program had slowed and I missed the intensity of the learning. I also welcomed this opening of flexibility in choosing what I listened to and practiced in terms of dharma and the time to delve into what interested me. It has been a lovely surprise for me to have this time open up in this new way. I have continued offering a monthly drop-in series which has been a gift for me in my own practice thanks to the generosity of yogis who have showed up for them. You can find my recordings under guided meditations tab. I have also co-taught a monthly three-part series on Insight dialogue which is my new passion!

Insight dialogue makes insight meditation inter-relational. Developed by Greg Kramer, this is a series of guidelines that combine mindfulness, concentration and insight/wisdom to bring to our lives, especially in relationships both with ourselves and others. The guidelines are Pause, Relax, Open, Attune to emergence, Listen Deeply and Speak the truth. The book by Greg Kramer is a wonderful manual to the practice – and practicing with others through the series and the summer retreat has deepened my own practice and joy. It has opened up a door to the mystery in each moment by attuning to: what is changing, how am I relating to this moment and how can I soften? It is also a practice, which when combined with contemplation of suttas (scriptures) from early buddhist texts, can lead to wonderful and insightful dialogue and great joy!

I find that each day, each week, a different guideline speaks to me. Right now, it is the mystery of not knowing, of attuning to emergence. Even when I plan what is coming, I don’t know what the moment will bring. How do I stay open to that? And this opening to surprises – and how I respond to them – is teaching me a lot about myself. I had the surprise of getting Covid recently. The surprise of receiving help and support and well wishes from others. The surprise of recovering well and feeling healthy again. The surprise of friendship – my own and that of others. The surprise of opening to not knowing!

As the world tilts on its axis in many ways that are challenging, how do we open truly to not knowing and to the possibility of freedom and love in this moment, no matter what? Perhaps, the answer can be found in one such contemplation Bhadra (Lucky):

Lucky to be walking a Path
that finds peace
in the arising
and passing
away
of
each
present
moment.

Regardless
of how things
work out
or don’t.
From “The First Free Women: Poems of the Early Buddhist Nuns”
Translated by Matty Weingast
Shambhala, 2020

So, as we head into Thanksgiving, may there be many gifts in your life of opening to wonder and joy!

With gratefulness, S.

Letting in and Letting go…

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Shuba

This morning, I was greeted by an unexpected sight – my 13 year old daughter making crepes for us for breakfast. Using a recipe from her French class, she made the batter, cooked the crepes, put in toppings and set up the table for us. It was a delightful sight and so were the crepes – truly yum! Another sign that my daughter is growing up.

In her gaining a couple of inches over me in what feels like overnight, I’m noticing that some things are easier. Her cheek is right next to mine when we stand – easier to give her a kiss. Easier to put my arms around her shoulders when we walk. More grown-up conversations. The love that fills my heart for her reminds me how attached I am to her. As a Buddhist I used to think in my beginning days that this practice was about being detached. And slowly, over many years of this practice, I’ve come to realize that the opposite is true. Be interested, enter the moment fully, feel the care, the incredible love. And hold it lightly.

I have been thinking a lot of T.S.Eliot’s words: to care and not to care. As parents, caring is our job. We care so much! And we learn to let go. To know that the outcome is beyond our control. We show up and we let go. Over and over. And we do this because time passes us by so quickly. Before we know it, the people in our lives grow and change. And this brings urgency into our lives – we show up now for the crepes, for the hugs, the laughter, the stories, the drama, the mundane and the sublime. And we fill our hearts with it. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

With love, Shuba

Opening to what is…

Posted on July 24, 2023 by Shuba

I’m writing on my last day here in India, where I have been for the past three weeks or so – in Chennai, Mumbai, Ooty and back to Chennai. Returning to my home town after six years, it has been quite the trip.

Among the many experiences, what stands out for me is the kindness, the friendliness and care that has come through these past weeks. In meeting old and dear friends after many years, I have been touched by love and gratitude for having some incredibly awesome people in my life. In meeting relatives with whom I haven’t done a great job of staying in touch with, I have been touched by warmth, openness and generosity. And the kindness of everyday folks – the maids, the cook, the watchman, the ironing guy, the cab guy, the hotel staff, the temple folks, the shop keepers – it sure cracks the heart wide open like a coconut!

Sometimes, the stress of simply going from one place to another feels frustrating and at other times, the equanimity of those who do this everyday and manage to keep their cool is inspiring. Cows that wait patiently at the coffee house next to humans, monkeys that climb on tall trees waiting to sneak out your food, dogs on streets lazing in the heat and people who go about their way without complaints. How can I hold the contradictions in life with equanimity? That seemed to be the theme everyday here in India.

Among the sensory overload that is India, especially after a long time away, what I am most grateful for are three things. The first one is time with my family. I am grateful this was possible and that we could spend some quality time together, both at home and through travel and sightseeing. Eating my moms home cooked food was awesome and so special. I also enjoyed some amazing North Indian food at my in-laws and the celebratory South Indian meals at the functions I could attend during my time here.

The second thing I am grateful for is my meditation cushion. Seriously! It’s the first time I have traveled with my cushion and I almost removed it from the suitcase in lieu of carrying other things when my husband reminded me that I should stick to my plan. Having my cushion with me reminded me to sit everyday. To make time for my mind to settle, and to remember what was nourishing for my spirit. It was also deeply grounding amidst all the travel and it allowed me to stay connected to presence and remember to relax when possible.

The last thing I am grateful for is traveling with my daughter Anjali. A beam of light in my life and also light hearted, Anji rode the waves of change easily – whether it was new food or new place or new people. It was so fun to show her the hangouts that I went to as a child, to introduce her to new people including those who have known me since I was her age or younger, and to sleep with her in the same room that I slept with my grandma so many years ago…she is a continuum of the life that has flowed down through generations. And Anji moved between worlds with such ease and grace, it inspired me to hold my experience with lightness and let go of any expectations.

My daughter examining tea leaves in the Nilgiris hills.

So here I am – on my final day, my heart full of a mixture of emotions. Peace, thankfulness, joy and anticipation of returning home, sadness that I won’t see my parents and friends here for some time. It will perhaps be a year or two – and more things would have changed. But not everything. Not the care, the love and the deep friendships that are part and parcel of this place I grew up in.

With gratitude, S.

A Space infused with loving-kindness…

Category Archives: gratitude