East Bay Healing Collective

Friends,

Over the past few weeks, ALS has been making it difficult for me to breathe. I have a respirator in my room now: I sleep through the night with the respirator, and I use it during the day as needed.

Over the past few weeks, I have completed chapter 5 from my book. Here is the table of contents. At this point, except for a forward and a possible conclusion, I'm considering the book basically done. I'm open to any feedback on it.

Peace and blessings be on all,
Mike

Table of Contents, Transformative Healing Table of Contents, Transformative Healing by Mike McGarry The following articles may become a book at some point Chapter 1: Self Love and Emotional Health Self-Love 1: Why Self-Love? Self-Love 2: What Self-Love is Not Self-Love 3: Self-Love and Discernment Self-Love 4: Self-Love and Self-Di...

I have been collecting my blogs here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jUIRv1AEPPIrByy7BXXG6GPSemMrHkjqoAj9hwb6m5c/edit?usp=sharing
Today, I revised an older post and re-post it there, about the four levels of gratitude. You can read that here.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/149-ms3kHplaC4AO6yfeobUAzOc-U_XhAuIPWRMhnDbw/edit?usp=sharing

The Four Levels of Gratitude The Four Levels of Gratitude Gratitude is an emotional perspective that can transform the way we look at life. The Wisdom Traditions and modern neurobiological research agree: cultivating gratitude is a powerful way to make us considerably happier. If working with gratitude is relatively new...

Monday, April 22, 2024 will be the 300th birthday of the philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). In addition to abstruse philosophical ideas, he also wrote extensively about morality and political rights. In fact, the idea of universal human rights, so cherished by some of us in the modern world, have roots in his thoughts.
Here's a great NYT article about his relevance

Why the World Still Needs Immanuel Kant (Gift Article) Unlike in Europe, few in the United States will be celebrating the philosopher’s 300th birthday. But Kant’s writing shows that a free, just and moral life is possible — and that’s relevant everywhere.

Sexual violence destroys people's lives, so it is hard to speak about it well. I was very impressed with the wisdom and compassion of report. I read from the sentencing project. It is primarily looking at the way perpetrators of sexual violence are punished, and calls for reform. The report is deeply data driven, and explodes a number of persistent myths about perpetrators of sexual violence. Of course, victims of sexual violence deserve our deepest care, and they deserve many more resources than society currently affords them. But it's also true, in the perspective of all the world's religions, that ultimately the perpetrators of sexual violence also need our compassion. This report balances those two compassions well. It points out that data-driven sentence reform would save a lot of money, and that money could be used both for the therapeutic care of the victims and for resource addressing the root causes of sexual violence, resources aimed at breaking the cycle of violence. Again, there's a tremendous amount of data about what would make society better, but we need to get over our preconceptions before we can embrace these solutions.

Responding to Crimes of a Sexual Nature: What We Really Want Is No More Victims – The Sentencing Project Report examines data around crimes of a sexual nature that contribute to the rise in imprisonment rates and recommendations for reform.

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on June 5, 2023, about concentration. What does it mean to be an excellent listener? What is the inestimable healing value of inner silence? What is the powerful connection between high-quality attention and overall life-satisfaction? This talk was the fifth in a series of six talks on the Paramitas in the Mahayana tradition.

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2023.06.05 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on June 5, 2023, about concentration. What does it mean to be an excellent listener? What is the inestimable healing value of inner silence? What is the powerful connection between high-quality attention and overall life-satisfaction? This....

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on February 6, 2023, about antiracism & Buddhism. How does antiracist work dovetail with Buddha dharma? How do we unpack the racism held in our bodies? How do we embody love & compassion in a healing & integrative way? This talk fell on the first Monday of Black History month.

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2023.02.06 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on February 6, 2023, about antiracism & Buddhism. How does antiracist work dovetail with Buddha dharma? How do we unpack the racism held in our bodies? How do we embody love & compassion in a healing & integrative way? This talk fell on the...

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on January 16, 2023, about the sacrifice of love. How deeply do you give? In what ways are you prepared to risk yourself in love? How do we cultivate the capacity to step into the more profound levels of letting go? This talk fell on the evening of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2023.01.16 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on January 16, 2023, about the sacrifice of love. How deeply do you give? In what ways are you prepared to risk yourself in love? How do we cultivate the capacity to step into the more profound levels of letting go? This talk fell on the ev...

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on January 24, 2022, about discipline. How do we cultivate more self-discipline? How does a discipline, such as meditation, bring us more freedom? How does discipline align us with who we really are?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2022.01.24 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on January 24, 2022, about discipline. How do we cultivate more self-discipline? How does a discipline, such as meditation, bring us more freedom? How does discipline align us with who we really are? This is the quote sheet for the talk.

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on January 3, 2022, about self-improvement vs. healing. From what part of us do we allow the plan of our life to unfold? Why do we believe that we can see and understand how we need to grow? How does the logic of letting go and allowing resonate with the logic of healing?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2022.01.03 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on January 3, 2022, about self-improvement vs. healing. From what part of us do we allow the plan of our life to unfold? Why do we believe that we can see and understand how we need to grow? How does the logic of letting go and allowing res...

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on December 6, 2021, about kindness. What is kindness and what are its roots? What do the edges of our kindness look like, the places where our kindness stops? What practice would allow us to bring more heartfelt kindness into the world?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.12.06 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on December 6, 2021, about kindness. What is kindness and what are its roots? What do the edges of our kindness look like, the places where our kindness stops? What practice would allow us to bring more heartfelt kindness into the world? Th...

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 22, 2021, about gratitude. How do we resist underestimating the pure simplicity of gratitude? How do we avoid the tenacious poison of taking things for granted? How does all of life, all joy and all suffering, transform when we look through the lens of gratitude?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.11.22 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 22, 2021, about gratitude. How do we resist underestimating the pure simplicity of gratitude? How do we avoid the tenacious poison of taking things for granted? How does all of life, all joy and all suffering, transform when we....

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 15, 2021, about right speech. Are we always aware of which part of ourselves is speaking at any moment? How do we discern when to challenge and when to make peace? How do we use our voice to unfold our deep authenticity further into Life?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.11.15 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 15, 2021, about right speech. Are we always aware of which part of ourselves is speaking at any moment? How do we discern when to challenge and when to make peace? How do we use our voice to unfold our deep authenticity further....

This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 08, 2021, about peace. What are the false refuges where we all regularly but vainly seek peace? What habitual attitudes prevent us from finding real peace? What are the characteristics of genuine inner peace and how do we cultivate these?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.11.08 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 08, 2021, about peace. What are the false refuges where we all regularly but vainly seek peace? What habitual attitudes prevent us from finding real peace? What are the characteristics of genuine inner peace and how do we cultiv...

This is my dharma talk about internal boundaries. How does healthy self-regulation differ from neurotic over-control? What is the emotional tenor of our inner conversations? How can we cultivate a joyous relationship with the energies that are inherently uncontrollable?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.11.01 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on November 01, 2021, about internal boundaries. How does healthy self-regulation differ from neurotic over-control? What is the emotional tenor of our inner conversations? How can we cultivate a joyous relationship with the energies that a...

This is my dharma talk about our mortality. What valuable lessons does the awareness of death teach? How does death catalyze our apprehension of the preciousness of our life and our loves? How does awareness of death sharpen our focus, enhance our compassion, and deepen our power?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.10.25 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on October 25, 2021, about our mortality. What valuable lessons does the awareness of death teach? How does death catalyze our apprehension of the preciousness of our life and our loves? How does death sharpen our focus, enhance our compass...

This is my dharma talk about suffering. Why do we suffer? How can we bear our suffering? What meaning can find in suffering?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.10.18 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on October 18, 2021, about suffering. Why do we suffer? How can we bear our suffering? What meaning can find in suffering? This is the quote sheet for the talk.

This is my dharma talk about the ideal of the spiritual warrior. How much self-discipline do you bring to your personal growth work? How courageously do you face yourself? How truthful are you with yourself?

Title: Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.09.06 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on September 6, 2021, about the ideal of the spiritual warrior. How much self-discipline do you bring to your personal growth work? How courageously do you face yourself? How truthful are you with yourself? This is the quote sheet for the t...

This is my dharma talk about judgment and judging. What are the inner dynamics of pronouncing judgments on others? What does it mean to live with good judgment? How can shifting our perspectives reorder all of our previous judgments about life?

Mike’s Dharma Talk, 2021.08.30 This is my dharma talk from the East Bay Healing Collective on August 30, 2021, about judgment and judging. What are the inner dynamics of pronouncing judgments on others? What does it mean to live with good judgment? How can shifting our perspectives reorder all of our previous judgments about life...

What a sweet virtual ConnectSpace! Lots of appreciation and fun. I felt leaving warm and fuzzy.

Love my CS family.

Oh what fun with Eileen

We're excited to share that the EBHC founder Oren Jay Sofer is leading a 5-day silent meditation retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains this September 19-23. There are still four spots open. If you're looking to clear your mind and recharge, we warmly invite you to check it out!
https://www.orenjaysofer.com/schedule/?tag=Retreats

Mindful Communication Training and Meditation Events — Oren Jay Sofer Workshops, trainings and retreats in mindfulness meditation, Nonviolent Communication, and relationship skills. Learn to meditate and to bring the tools of contemplative practice into your life and work.

Who would be interested in seeing a movie on culture, spiritual calling, and a music band? It is "Parallel Love," with a one-time showing in Berkeley. Wed, Aug. 14, at the Elmwood Theater. More film info at www.Parallel-Love.com

Home - PARALLEL LOVE So, what do you expect from life? “An Eye Opener” NPR Music “Truly something special. A 90’s garage punk story about a band I missed out on.” Film Rant “I COULDN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF IT. A BRILLIANT TRIBUTE.” Paste Magazine “VIBRANT. FULL OF SURPRISES” FILM THREAT So, what do you e...

Here is a blog article I wrote about what I call the "Culture of Love" and the "Culture of Fear." I feel this is a huge division in our society right now.
https://mysticsrants.typepad.com/my-blog/2019/07/the-cultures-of-love-and-of-fear.html

The Cultures of Love and of Fear We live in time in which there are two cultures in the United States: the Culture of Love and the Culture of Fear. First of all, let me explain these terms. Of course, all parents love their children, and everybody loves their own family and friends—in that sense, love is...

Hey y'all. Happy to share my latest blog post: "The Radical Act of Reclaiming our Attention"
Without a full heart, we falter when called to meet the immense challenges of our day; we shrink in the shadow of their gravity. Nourishing the heart is a bit like nourishing the body—it’s about what you put into it. What we put into our heart and mind depends on what we pay attention to. And in an attention economy, reclaiming your attention is a radical act of self-empowerment.
Blog via Oren Jay Sofer.
orenjaysofer.com/blog/attention

East Bay Healing Collective is proud to join our Founder Oren Jay Sofer in celebrating the release of his first book, Say What You Mean. May this book help many learn the tools needed to live in line with our deepest values, and to bring more light, love, hope and peace into our world.
https://more.orenjaysofer.com/book/

"Speech is the one place where all of our faculties - body, mind, emotions - come together."

Over 200 people joined me today for Worldwide Insight Sunday, where I outlined some basics about mindful communication. The Q&A was super interesting. Check it out here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wwin-oren-jay-sofer-9-sept-2018

Dear EBHC friends,
Happy to share this free online event I'm leading this Sunday integrating and . Feel free to join me & share with those you think might find it of interest!
https://www.facebook.com/events/226705131358900/

How to Lay a Foundation for Successful Conversations -
Latest newsletter - including special gifts when you pre-order my book, "Say What You Mean."https://mailchi.mp/orenjaysofer/effective-conversations