One. I am grateful for this new day. Every morning is a gift. But we often forget that caught up in our routines and worries. The Buddha once said, “Let us rise up and be thankful.For if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little.” When you wake up, before you check your phone or think about your to-do list, simply say to yourself, “I am grateful for this new day.” Feel that gratitude in your heart for your breath, for your body, for the chance to begin again. Gratitude is the foundation. It opens your mind and softens your heart. Try this. Before getting out of bed, take three slow,deep breaths and silently repeat this affirmation. Start your day grounded in appreciation.
Two, I let go of yesterday. What happened yesterday is over. The arguments, the mistakes, the stress. They belong to the past. But many of us wake up still carrying yesterday’s weight. And that burden drains our energy. In Buddhist wisdom, attachment to the past is one of the roots of suffering. So each morning, remindyourself, I let go of yesterday. Let go of the regrets, the anger, the sadness.Imagine them dissolving with each exhale. Give yourself the freedom to begin fresh today. Because every morningis a small rebirth, a chance to choose peace over pain.
Three, I am calm and in control of my mind. The world will test you today with stress, with challenges, with distractions. But remember this, I am calm and in control of my mind. The Buddha taught, “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” Your mind can be your greatest friend or your greatest enemy, and the choice is yours. So before the chaos begins, anchor yourself in thisaffirmation. Feel the calmness within you. Know that no matter what happens outside, you have the power to choose peace inside. Try sitting in stillness for even one minute after waking up. Just breathing and reminding yourself of your inner strength.
Four, I will respond withkindness. Today, kindness is not just what you do. It’s how you carry yourself, how you speak, even how youthink. When you start your day with the intention of kindness, you transform your world and the world around you. Sayto yourself, “I will respond with kindness today.” Whether it’s with family, co-workers, strangers, or even yourself. The Buddha said, “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love.”This is the eternal rule. By choosing kindness, you break the cycle of negativity and plant seeds of peace.Before you leave home, visualize at least one kind act you will do today, no matter how small. This simple intention can change the energy of your entireday.
Five. Everything is temporary. So I will enjoy this moment. Life is always changing. The good times, the hard times, nothing stays forever. In Buddhism, this is called ana or impermanence. So each morning remind yourself everything is temporary so I will enjoy this moment. If today is busy it will pass. If today is peaceful that too will pass. But right now this breath this sunrise this chance to be alive it is yours. Cherish it. As the old saying goes nothing is forever except change.So instead of resisting embrace this flow of life. Be present. Be grateful.
Bhikkhu K. Nanananda
“May all beings be safe from inner and outer dangers.” “May all beings be healthy and strong.” “May all beings be happy and peaceful.” “May all beings live with ease.”
Illustration of the proposed framework and its implications for sentient beings. The universal consciousness field (Φ) exists beyond space–time in an undifferentiated state (. Through differentiation, it gives rise to localized excitations (), which manifest as physical structures or individual consciousness. Following the Big Bang, Φ evolves, generating complex systems capable of awareness—sentient beings with individual consciousness ψ) localized in space–time. Once differentiated, personal thought (τ) shapes individual awareness and perception, producing evolving subjective interpretations of reality ψ over time. This process creates the illusion of separateness, even though all individual consciousness remains intrinsically connected within the universal consciousness field.
Universal consciousness as foundational field: A theoretical bridge between quantum physics and non-dual philosophy
After 40 years of active study and practice of the Buddhist teachings and having written four books on what I call Buddha inspired psychology, I recently found a very insightful perspective that elaborated on what I had learned before. The insight is that the Buddhist teachings are a mysticism, which inherently undercuts any easy attempts at codification. Therefore, union with the divine or emptiness is experienced rather than defined and categorized through limited language. such an emphasis on first-hand experience runs contrary to abstract, ‘positive’ cataphatic theology. this book is the unique and cogent perspective that incorporates the Buddhist teachings as a ‘negative’ apophatic theology.
While there are some scholarly books and research articles on the topic of apophatic theology, very few incorporate the Buddha’s teachings. I hope to show in this book that indeed Buddhist teachings and wisdoms are succinctly integrated into this apophatic spiritual tradition that spans cultures and time. Within the larger scope of the typology of ‘via negative’, the Buddhist teachings of nothingness or emptiness or Sunyata are clearly a part of the apophatic spiritual tradition.
Therefore, this book goes beyond what is usually taught in traditional Buddhist texts. My aim is to make accessible from a modern perspective what the Buddha was universally teaching for those who are on their own spiritual path of personal discovery.
–I have always been struck by the universal applicability of the Buddha’s teachings, which transcend geographical and temporal constraints. The integration of these teachings with proponents of apophatic theology has only reinforced my belief in their universality. Despite four decades of rigorous research, temple retreats, lectures, and meditation practice, it is only now that I have uncovered this enlightening connection between the Buddha’s teachings and the apophatic traditions. It is my sincere desire to share this newfound insight with my fellow spiritual seekers.
-I have always appreciated that the Buddha taught universal truths that are applicable everywhere and throughout time. Integration of these truths with other teachers of the Apophatic theology has affirmed my belief in this universality of the Buddha’s teachings. Even with my forty years of research studies, attendance of temple retreats with monks and lay lectures and meditation practice, I have only now found this instructive link between the Buddha’s teachings with other teachers of the Apophatic tradition, and I want to share this with my fellow spiritual path voyagers. I believe they will also find it as interesting and illuminating as I have.
The Apophatic emphasis on firsthand experience hence knowledge, stands in stark contrast to abstract, ‘positive’ cataphatic theology. This latest work of mine presents a unique and compelling perspective that positions the Buddha’s teachings firmly within a ‘negative’ apophatic theological framework.
While there are scholarly works and research articles on apophatic theology, very few incorporate the profound teachings of the Buddha. In this book, I aim to demonstrate how Buddha’s wisdom can be seamlessly integrated into this spiritual tradition that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries. Within the broader context of the ‘via negativa’ typology, the Buddhist concepts of nothingness, emptiness, or Sunyata are undeniably intertwined with the apophatic spiritual tradition. It is my sincere desire to share this newfound insight with my fellow spiritual seekers.
Non-duality is the recognition that at the core of existence lies a fundamental wholeness, ultimately arising from a single, unified source. It is understanding that everything is interconnected and inseparable, and that perceived dualities—such as self and other, or subject and object—are ultimately illusions. Awakening to non-duality offers profound benefits for our well-being, relationships, and understanding of life. Interestingly, recent advances in various branches of science are beginning to echo these insights.
1. Unity with All Beings – Everything is interconnected and constantly interacting. We are all connected on a deep level and when we see beyond the surface-level distinctions, we embrace the oneness of everything. When we realize our affinity with All that share this gift of Life, we experience a profound sense of unity and wholeness and have a deep sense of compassion and empathy towards all living beings.
2. Living in the Present Moment – Non-duality helps us release attachment to the past and anxieties about the future, allowing us to remain serenely fully in the present. Free from judgment or rigid interpretation, we experience life with greater clarity and peace.
3. Transcendence of Duality – By realizing non-duality, we move beyond the limitations of binary thinking—such as mind vs. body or self vs. other. While categorization is useful for practical navigation, it can also be a source of suffering. Non-dual awareness fosters a broader, more flexible perspective, freeing us from illusions of separation and the biases they create.
4. Enhancing Psychological Well-Being – Non-dual awareness has profound psychological and emotional benefits, not just for individuals but for society and the planet. Also, when we no longer see self as a separate entity, the fear of death diminishes; it is understood not as annihilation but as a transformation within the continuum of existence.
5. Embracing the Mystery of Existence – Non-duality invites us to appreciate life’s mysteries and accept the unknown. Rather than resisting uncertainty, we learn to welcome the vast possibilities and complexities of existence.
6. A Path of Awakening – Non-dualism spans ancient traditions and modern teachings, offering a structured path for personal and transpersonal growth. True awakening involves a transformative shift from conditioned ways of thinking, feeling, and acting toward a life aligned with universal principles.
“ ‘This is what pure experience is: neither the world nor “I” in it other than experience.’ Susan Hamilton
‘The seeing of Truth cannot be dualistic (a ‘thing’ seen). It cannot be seen by a see-er, or via a see-er. There can only be a seeing which itself is Truth.’ Wei Wu Wei
‘The outside world of form-and-name and the inner world of thought and feeling are both no more than the construction of mind, and when the mind ceases, the weaving-out of a world of particulars is stopped. This stopping is called emptiness or no birth, but it is not the wiping out of existence, it is on the contrary viewing it truthfully unhammered by discriminative categories.’ D-T. Suzuki
‘The ‘world’ of experience is not given in experience: it is constructed by thought from the data of sense.’ C.I. Lewis
‘In whatever egotistic terms they think of an object, it becomes that. And therein, verily, lies its falseness, the puerile deceptive phenomenon that it is.’ S N v. 916
‘Bhikkhu, ‘I am’ is a conceiving; ‘I am this’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall not be’ is a conceiving; I shall be possessed of form’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be formless’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be non-percipient’ is a conceiving. Conceiving is a disease, conceiving is a tumour, conceiving is a barb. By overcoming all conceiving, bhikkhu, one is called a sage at peace.’(M.N. 140.31)
The things of this world are merely conventions of our own making. Having established them, we get lost in them and refuse to let go, giving rise to personal views and opinions. … Now, if we know conventional reality then we’ll know liberation…If we clearly know liberation then we’ll know convention. .’
Today is the launch of my new book- The Garden of Eden in This Life. It is available in paperback, hardcover and kindle on Amazon. The following is the book description. With Metta, Rodger Ricketts.
What if the story of the Garden of Eden wasn’t just ancient myth, but a timeless guide to reclaiming our original wholeness? What if the “fall” from innocence was not the end, but an invitation to return—consciously—to a deeper unity with ourselves, each other, and the world?
In The Garden of Eden in This Life, Dr. Rodger R. Ricketts—a clinical psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and lifelong student of the Buddha’s teachings—unveils a profound perspective linking ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and the apophatic (negative) spiritual tradition. Drawing from over forty years of study and practice, he explores how non-dualistic teachings from Buddhism, science, and multiple faith traditions reveal the limits of language, the illusions of separation, and the path back to an integrated state of being.
You will journey through concepts like Sunyata (emptiness), the via negativa, and the psychology of transcendence—discovering how humanity’s separation from nature and spirit can be healed through direct experience, compassionate living, and expanded awareness.
This is more than a philosophical exploration—it’s a practical roadmap for living with clarity, joy, and interconnectedness. Through cross-cultural insights, reflective practices, and meditative approaches, Dr. Ricketts shows how embracing the ineffable mystery of life can dissolve division, foster ecological and social harmony, and restore our inner paradise.
Whether you are a seeker, a meditator, a student of comparative religion, or someone simply longing for a more meaningful existence, The Garden of Eden in This Life will inspire you to see beyond duality and step into a living experience of unity.
If you are ready to move beyond dogma, transcend the limits of language, and reawaken to the timeless ground of being—this book will guide you there. Open these pages and begin your journey back to the Garden… in this life.
We are all Interconnected even with the Universe 