The Quiet Power That Sustains Us

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

~ His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

There is an evocative story about anthropologist Margaret Mead. Perhaps it is apocryphal, yet it is still enlightening. She was asked what she considered to be the first sign of civilization. The student expected answers like clay pots, farming tools, or the use of fire. However, Mead’s response was different. She pointed to a healed femur, a thigh bone that had been broken and mended.

In the animal kingdom, a broken leg often signifies a death sentence. An injured animal cannot flee from predators, hunt for food, or reach water. It is left behind and vulnerable. But a healed femur tells a different story. It indicates that someone stayed with the injured individual. This person tended to their wound, carried them to safety, and cared for them through personal sacrifice. “Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts,” Mead explained.

Last month, members of the Myndtree community gathered for our annual potluck picnic. Beyond the joy and connection within our circle, the park was alive with quiet gestures of care. Adults cheered at soccer games, grandparents gently pushed strollers, and friends leaned on each other in laughter and tears.

When we take a moment to notice, we see countless small acts of love and compassion sustaining the fabric of our larger world. Parents nourish their children, healthcare workers tend to the sick, activists amplify silenced voices, and caretakers support aging loved ones. Through these selfless acts, humanity has always endured.

When I first envisioned hosting Myndtree’s inaugural overnight retreat, this truth was central to my intention. The teachings on the four Brahmaviharas - loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), appreciative joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha) - offer timeless remedies against forces that can fragment us. These forces include anger, greed, hatred, and aggression.

With this theme in mind, I was fortunate to find the perfect setting for our gathering at the serene Mount Madonna Center. It is nestled in redwood-covered hills, overlooking Monterey Bay. If your life permits, I warmly invite you to join us from September 5 – 7 for our retreat, Tending the Garden of Your Heart. In our fast-paced world, even a brief retreat can provide deep nourishment. It offers a chance to reconnect, reset, and remember what truly matters.

As I prepare for a two-week silent meditation retreat this Sunday, I reflect on the importance of this practice. After months focused outwardly, I am eager to turn inward. I want to deepen my practice and find rest in stillness.

For me, retreats serve as spring cleaning for the heart and mind. Just like we clear out clutter from our homes to create space and order, retreats allow us to refresh our inner world. They provide a vital ritual, gifting me with renewed inspiration and insights. I can then bring these back into my life and work as a meditation teacher.

May we all continue to express love and compassion. We must remember that they are not extras. They are the quiet power that sustains us all. Each act of kindness contributes to the collective well-being of our communities.

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