Maybe we can heal the world through arranging flowers, writing poetry, or baking bread in a shelter. Why not? The "serious" methods that have been tried haven't ended the pain; often they seem to have created more. We need to free our minds if we are to find new paths through the dark forest of suffering. We need experimentation and playfulness in the face of difficulty, no matter how paradoxical that may seem. As Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tarthang Tulku says, "We already know how to enjoy ourselves. When we are enjoying ourselves we are productive and creative. It's just a matter of bringing that enjoyment into everything we do."

Ram Dass, Mirabai Bush, Compassion in Action