Dear Friends,
Recently I attended an Alchemy workshop at Bastyr University outside of Seattle, Washington. During the class we learned some Latin phrases, and there was one that stuck with me - "ora et labora", which means "to pray and work". I think it appealed to me because it reminded me how much of my day is spent in meditation - a balance between who we are and what we do, and how it in itself affects the world around us.
I have been a practitioner of the Tonglen meditation practice for many years. Tonglen is based on the understanding that we must have compassion for ourselves before we can have compassion for others. In Tonglen you take on suffering of others in order to breathe in your intention for them and exhale the intention to them.
Through this practice I believe we have created a company that takes in forms of suffering, and ultimately creates things that help end suffering. I try to bring this practice into every moment of my day. In the end we are all human, and suffering is part of our existence - what we do with that suffering is up to us.
I recommend the Tonglen meditation practice because it helps us face our own fears, while helping alleviate the pain of others. After all, nothing creates compassion like a little empathy.
Strength, wisdom and devotion,
Joshua Scott Onysko Founder & CEO Pangea Organics