Mary Ann Brussat

Sep 4, 2024 | spiritualityandpractice.com | Mary Ann Brussat |Frederic Brussat

For millennia, teaching stories have been used to convey the wisdom of the world's religions and spiritual paths. Sacred texts are full of them: the stories about God's activity in the Hebrew Bible, Jesus' parables about the kingdom of God in the Gospels, the epic accounts of the gods and goddesses in Hindu scriptures. From the oral traditions, we have tales about Buddhist teachers, Hasidic rebbes, Sufi dervishes, and Taoist masters. Then there are fables; fairy tales; even jokes.

Jun 27, 2024 | spiritualityandpractice.com | Mary Ann Brussat

We like to think of ourselves as being in control of our lives. But events and circumstances often conspire to set us off course. In periods of economic crisis, war and political chaos, and widespread cultural change, uncertainty and insecurity make our journey feel ever more stressful and dangerous. Magazines and websites still publish listings of the "safest cities" or the "safest vacation spots" but we know there is no guaranteed safety anywhere.

Mar 11, 2024 | spiritualityandpractice.com | Mary Ann Brussat

Are you interested in mining the meaning of your experiences? Do you believe that your failures and mistakes provide a chance to transform your days? Have you discovered that one of life's many saving graces is the ability to see misfortunes as blessings in disguise? We invite you to join us for this 21-day program on the spiritual practice of reframing. With a worldwide community, we will share the adventure of mind-training.

Jul 31, 2023 | spiritualityandpractice.com | Mary Ann Brussat

Anger is a serious problem for all of us, no matter what we do or where we live. It is behind the violent behavior we hear about on the news; it is one of the causes of self-destructive addictions; it wrecks many intimate relationships; it animates the harm we do through gossip and negative talk about others; and it has been directly linked to heart attacks and high blood pressure. Anger is a multi-purpose emotion that attacks the body, mind, and soul.

Jul 31, 2023 | spiritualityandpractice.com | Mary Ann Brussat

We get up in the morning, eat breakfast, go to work or school, and come home again. Most likely sometime during the day we will also be disappointed about something. "The main emotion of the adult American who has had all the advantages of wealth, education, and culture is disappointment," novelist John Cheever once wrote. We'd add that this feeling is common no matter where you live. Things don't always turn out the way we want them to. Disappointment is part of the fabric of life.