What Truth do you have faith in? What does it mean to abide in Truth? To be established in Truth? To be committed to being with, facing, and dealing with what’s real rather than remaining in the status quo? Rather than remaining in our own ego based self-interest? In our own ignorance and fantasy? These are the questions we explore in this sermon which is focused on satya, or truthfulness (one of the yama-s, the ethical underpinning of yoga practice). https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-36-satya/

Yoga practice begins with love. The first aspect of yoga practice is Ahimsā, which is most often translated as non-violence, but is so much more than the suppression of violence. Ahimsā is an inner attitude of reverence for all beings that simply doesn’t allow space for violence to arise. This sermon explores possibility and limitation. It explores violence and love. It explores the yamas and the kleshas. https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-35-ahimsa/

The 1st limb of yoga practice, called yama, is the ethical underpinning of yoga. The 5 yamas help us explore what it means to live in right relationship with the world. This sermon introduces the yamas, which are considered the great vow of the yogi and explores the importance of increasing our capacity for discomfort so that we can increase our capacity for love. https://www.summercushman.com/yama-the-ethical-underpinning-of-yoga/

Hannah Arendt's understanding of work and action is wholly different than how we've been trained to understand them. My husband shared Arendt's ideas with me in a conversation about action and equity and racism and feeling helpless in the midst of such huge problems. I found them so helpful, that I asked him to share them with you too. May his sermon support your efforts to imagine a new world. https://www.summercushman.com/thinking-with-hannah-arendt/

Do you ever look at everything happening in the world and feel overwhelmed? Me too. But we can't get lost or frozen in the feelings of overwhelm. No matter how small we feel, our actions matter. Our actions create the world. Think about that: Our actions create the world. (This is a big deal!) I've got a new sermon for you this week that explores the root of our actions and the ways our practice can support our efforts to act with intention and move toward love. https://www.summercushman.com/the-next-right-action/

When we try to solve the problems of the world, we're almost instantly paralyzed by overwhelm (or is that just me?).

So what do we do?

This week's sermon explores action. How do we act in response to a moment like the one we're facing?

We're in a moment of pandemic and loss and grief. Everything about "normal life" has been disrupted. Which means we're in a moment of great opportunity. We have the opportunity to create a new world.

Listen to this sermon and tell me what you think. What kind of action do you want to take? What kind of world do you want to build?

https://www.summercushman.com/coronavirus-and-action/

There's some serious preaching going on here! Last week I attempted to answer the question (posed by my 5-year old niece): Who's Jesus? This week, we go even deeper with an exploration of salvation. It's a tricky and complicated topic. And here's my conclusion: It's something we have to work out together. https://www.summercushman.com/easter-in-two-parts-jesus-and-salvation/

Easter is a holiday that helps us welcome spring and renew our sense of hope in the world. This Easter I decided to dedicate my sermon to my beloved niece Julianna. She recently asked her mama: “Who’s Jesus?” What a good question little one! But a question without a simple answer. This sermon offers one answer. The answer of an auntie, wanting her niece to learn about this important figure from the perspective of love. https://www.summercushman.com/easter-in-two-parts-jesus-and-salvation/

As I listen to your hearts—and my own—I feel a wave of strong emotion coming in every imaginable size and shape. We’re riding a tide of intense feeling, being rocked back and forth between emotional extremes. We can’t stop the waves. But we can find the space between them. https://www.summercushman.com/coronavirus-and-emotion/

While I can't actually give you a physical hug right now, I hope this sermon will feel a bit like a hug. Like I'm reaching out to you with comfort and support. https://www.summercushman.com/coronavirus-and-grief/