The gift of the gong

When we follow to its extinction the sound of the gong, we find ourselves bathed in silence. The gift of this experience is the realization that no matter what happens, all is well.

The best gift

After being raped at age eight, Maya Angelou stopped talking. Later she described forgiveness as the best gift we can give ourselves. True forgiveness invokes surrender. Surrender is the province of the strong.

Love

The greatest gift we can give to anyone is our thoughtless attention.

The fourth wise man

Emotions, no matter how intense and virulent, are not the problem. Our identification with emotions—that’s the problem. This Christmas we offer ourselves the gift of detachment.