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12 EASTERN HORIZON | FEATURE

enchantment—a shining kind of contentment; and smiling at them if that feels helpful, and release them
spiritual radiance—a serene joy born from deep well- one by one.
being and benevolence.
Now center your attention in your heart and start to
When we start to open up to the ways in which we feel ask today’s mudita mantra, “What brings me joy?” Wait
joy, we realize that joy is so often readily available at our for the answer. Recognize it. Relish it. And ask again:
fingertips. Even when we are at rock bottom or within “What brings me joy?” Notice the blessing of joy that
a spell of depression, to train the mind in joy means we comes to mind. Recognize it, savor it, then repeat again,
take notice and attend to just how much joy may still be “What brings me joy?” Keep repeating the mantra
present amid our darkest of moments. In this way, joy and reflecting on all the ordinary and extraordinary
becomes a subtle way back to the fundamental pleasure occurrences that bring you joy. Give yourself permission
that’s always there in the present moment. to feel good and see your life through the eyes of joy.
Continue this practice until you feel complete. When
Meditation: What Brings Me Joy? you are ready, open your eyes.

You are going to begin to create your new habit of
recognizing what miracles of joy you have available to Adapted from Kindness Now: A 28-Day Guide to Living
you right here in this moment. with Authenticity, Intention, and Compassion by
Amanda Gilbert. Copyright © 2021 by Amanda Gilbert.
Start to settle in. Take a few natural breaths. Softly close Out now with Shambhala Publications.
your eyes. Spend these next few moments scanning
your body with a gentle warmth and tender care. Lightly Amanda Gilbert is a meditation teacher, lecturer of
guide your attention to the natural inflow and outflow mindfulness at the University of Southern California,
of the breath. Let any thoughts cross through your mind, speaker, and author. EH

The Making of Abiding

Heart: Beyond

Contemplative Education

By Dr. Meyrav Mor October 2021

In 2000, a nascent Abiding Heart Education began its insurgents that controlled many parts of the Nepali
journey with the establishment of my first school in high Himalayas. At Tashi Waldorf school I developed
Nepal, Tashi Waldorf School, which integrated Waldorf a Tibetan Buddhist curriculum that encompassed
methodology with Himalayan cultural heritage. Tibetan meditation, Buddhist morning prayers and offerings,
Buddhism was central to the school’s curriculum due contemplative and Buddhist education, Buddhist
to the primary importance of supporting and nurturing festivals such as Sagadawa and also featured Tibetan
the connection between displaced Tibetan and high language, music, folklore and drama. From this, and
Himalayan students and their linguistic and cultural later postgraduate research, emerged the foundation for
heritage. Many families had fled to Kathmandu from Abiding Heart Education, described in my publication of
the other side of the Himalayas and from the Maoist ‘Preserving the Past Reserving the Future: A Foundation