It doesn’t really matter how long we’ve practiced, how many books we’ve read, or how hard we’ve tried. It doesn’t matter what spiritual ideas we hold or even what past awakenings we’ve had. It only really matters how we devote ourselves to this moment. The means we use are the ends we achieve. In other words, the most important outcome is always now. A wholehearted and wholesome embrace is the alchemy of awakening.
◆
From The Dharma of Healing: The Path of Liberation from Stress, Pain, and Trauma by Justin Michelson © 2025 by Justin Michelson. Reprinted in arrangement with Shambhala Publications.