While we live in a culture steeped in greed and conspicuous consumption, it is becoming increasingly clear to larger numbers of people that there is a better world view.

The soul thrives in the bosom of generosity and gratitude, which has nothing to do with how much money you have in the bank. Generosity is liberating, and gratitude is in all humility.

Be grateful for all your teachers—a former girlfriend, a mentor, a man on the street who taught you something with his awareness. Be generous with your talent, and your praise, and good thoughts for the success of others—which the Buddha had taught more than 2,000 years ago.

You think and feel for your own self. You don’t relinquish your perception or power to experts.

You don’t rely on reviews, critics, and other secondhand sources to make up your mind for you. Of course, when you see a sign on a bottle of lye that reads ‘Poison, do not drink’, you accept the warning without having to taste it for yourself.

Independence without discernment is a flaw.

To be aware of a single thing means you have your attention on it, which is the first step toward doing anything.

You also realize attention exists within the larger sphere of awareness. While attention is mandatory for completing tasks, it is more important to remain aware.

You could be engrossed in your favorite piece of music while your house was burning down. It would be smarter to be aware that the house is on fire instead of paying attention to the music.

Where is your attention? Does it involve gossip, opinion polls, banal thoughts, lurid tales haunting high profile folk, or name your distraction? Are you proud of your attention? Answer truthfully, or why bother.

I am an artist, you say.

Why should I concern myself with the difference between intuition and thought? It is too philosophical and not important to my work, you might also think. But it is important, and only your ego would attempt to steer you away from a philosophy that would keep it in check.

To the point: freeing the mind of thought through whatever means creates the space for intuition to enter, which is the source of strength that defeats both rejection and gloating.

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The Internet is aglow with the notion and hype of no thinking—as if this was a recent revelation.

Dashers for enlightenment are now after this new game in town—buying heavily promoted books to elevate them somehow. Smart folk, however, have learned that you can’t chase down truth—nor will truth come and find you. Reading about a truth from a reliable source is good; but, if you want to learn how to swim, you must get wet.

Realization comes at its own pace—and insight is not plagued by any previous thoughts. No thinking (intuition is then at work) is also a pillar of Zen and the source of great art.

When the mind is still, no thinking, there is no confusion.