Hi all,

Two new articles for you so far this month - one on the 3 Marks of Existence, and a book review of Dakini Power, an amazing new book featuring 12 contemporary female Buddhist teachers (and check below to see where you can win a free copy):

Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta - The 3 Marks of Existence
The Buddha taught that there are three characteristics of everything we experience in our world - impermanence, suffering or dissatisfaction, and 'no-self'. Deeply contemplating the nature of these is the foundation for wisdom, which is itself a foundation for enlightenment.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art46932.asp

Dakini Power - 12 Amazing Women
The book Dakini Power profiles twelve fascinating, inspiring women teachers within Tibetan Buddhism, including bestselling author Pema Chodron, the most senior Western-born Tibetan Buddhist nun Tenzin Palmo, the first Tibetan women to immigrate to the U.S. Dagmola Kusho Sakya, and more!

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art180287.asp

Please note that I had the honor of interviewing the author of this book, Michaela Haas, and she shares many wonderful stories about these inspirational women. Listen to the interview, and COMMENT TO ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY OF DAKINI POWER here:

http://www.meditatelikeagirl.com/1/post/2013/05/guest-mentor-michaela-haas-author-of-dakini-power.html

And don't forget the forum, I'd love for you to participate:

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=351

In closing, here is a passage from Dakini Power - a quote from Pema Chodron, probably the most well-known woman featured in the book. One of her biggest teachings is about not being afraid to face the negativity in ourselves, about learning to acknowledge and stay present with it, so that we can learn to react in different ways. Here is a passage from her on this:

"The first step is to develop an unconditional friendship with yourself. Unconditional friendship means staying open when you want to shut down, when it is just too painful, too embarrassing, too unpleasant, too hateful what you see in yourself. The whole mark of training in cultivating bravery is so you could go anywhere on the earth and be of help to people because you wouldn't shut down on them. The first step is looking at yourself with a feeling of gentleness and kindness. It takes a lot of guts, as Trungpa Rinpoche says, because it means staying present when you begin to fear what you see."

In Peace,
Lisa Erickson, Buddhism Editor
http://buddhism.bellaonline.com

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