The practice of Buddhism began 2,500 years ago. Only within the past century have Western cultures reached out to embrace Buddhist wisdom, whose essence is to awaken and to serve. Blocking one’s mortal path to awakened or enlightened service are egotism, greed and selfishness, each of which leads to endless and needless suffering.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism can help us move beyond earthly limitations and thereby reach Nirvana, a state of mind that is completely and permanently free of suffering.

The good news is that the love light within us is eager to help light our path to enlightenment. With an awakened heart we can lovingly connect with and deeply appreciate what is — without seeking to change it, grasp it, or to push it away.

How to awaken? Mindfulness is the key to a “spacious” practice of Buddhism. Spaciousness allows us to observe without reacting. To draw conclusions or interpretations is to step out of touch with the here and now. To recognize our interconnection with nature’s five elements — earth, water, fire, air and space — is to embrace their divinity, and thereby manifest our own divinity or inner joy, our very own “flow,” our vitality. Buddhists know that love is a verb, not a noun. The way of a Buddha is simply to stay present, and to be love.

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