Our Mettaverse

01/21/2026

We practice patience for the world to be happier.

When the situation arises to get angry, you must think, “To make my precious human life meaningful, I must practice patience. I can’t use my human life to get angry. Even animals get angry, so what’s the use of that? Even animals, if somebody harms them, the animals harm back. That is nothing special. When one country does bad things, the country that is harmed does bad things in return. That is normal; even animals do that. Even groups of animals fight, so that’s nothing special. To practice patience makes this precious human body I’ve received this one time meaningful instead of bringing suffering.”

If you get angry, you bring suffering; if you practice patience, you bring happiness to yourself and happiness to the other person, happiness to the family, happiness to the world. A larger way of thinking about this is that you bring happiness to the world. If you practice patience with the other person, that means you are practicing patience with the world, you are bringing happiness to the world. That is the purpose of a human life; that is why you are a born as a human being, to not harm.

- Lama Zopa Rinpoche

from *Making this Precious Human Life Meaningful* lamayeshe.com/article/making-precious-human-life-meaningful from a teaching given in Madrid, Spain, on October 19, 2018 / Image of Rinpoche in 2018 at Buddha Amitabha Pure Land, Washington State. Ven Roger Kunsang (photographer)

01/17/2026

Most people don’t realize that life doesn’t repeat because of fate — it repeats because of loops.

This image shows two very different cycles we can fall into, often without noticing.

At the center of both is INTENTION.
Not the intention we say we have — but the intention we act from when things get uncomfortable.

🔁 The Victim Loop

This is the loop of unconscious living.

Something happens. A situation triggers discomfort.

Instead of facing it, we:

Ignore what hurts

Deny our role

Blame circumstances or people

Rationalize our behavior

Resist change

Hide from truth

And then… the same situation shows up again.
Different face. Same lesson.

The Victim Loop feels safe because it protects the ego.
But safety comes at a cost: stagnation.

Nothing grows here. Nothing heals here.
Only stories do.

🔁 The Accountability Loop

This is the loop of conscious growth.

The same situation arises — but this time, we choose differently.

We:

Recognize what’s really happening

Own our response, not the story

Forgive ourselves and others

Self-examine without self-attack

Learn the lesson

Take action, even when it’s uncomfortable

This loop doesn’t feel easy.
But it feels free.

Because every pass through it makes you wiser, lighter, and stronger.

⚖️ The Truth Few Talk About

Both loops begin with the same situation.
The difference is choice.

You don’t escape the Victim Loop by blaming less people.
You escape it by telling yourself the truth.

And you don’t enter the Accountability Loop by being perfect.
You enter it by being honest.

🌱 A Gentle Reminder

Accountability is not punishment.
It’s self-respect.

Forgiveness is not weakness.
It’s clarity.

Growth doesn’t happen when life gets easier —
It happens when you get braver.

Ask yourself today:
Which loop am I feeding — and which one is feeding me?

Because the moment you change your loop,
your entire life trajectory shifts.

01/11/2026

Before the River: A Thoughtful Response to California’s Proposed Billionaire Tax

California is considering a bold proposal: a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents with more than $1 billion in assets. The intention is to raise significant funding for schools, mental health services, housing, healthcare, and other essential programs that support Californians who are struggling.

At its heart, this proposal reflects something deeply human — a desire to care for one another.

And yet, as we discuss how to fund solutions, I find myself asking a deeper question:

Why are so many people ending up in crisis in the first place?

We are generous with our lifejackets.

When people struggle with mental health, we fund crisis care. When families lose housing, we respond with emergency support. When students fall behind, we try to patch the gaps.

And these efforts matter. They save lives. They ease suffering.

But I can’t help but mention —
Too many people ending up in the river in the first place!

What if we spent more energy upstream? What if we invested not just in rescue,
but in prevention?

⸻

We’re Very Good at Responding to Crisis, But Not at Preventing It

Much of California’s current spending is designed to react:

• Mental health care after breakdown
• Housing assistance after displacement
• Academic intervention after failure
• Emergency services after trauma

This is compassionate — and necessary.
But it’s also expensive, exhausting, and emotionally heavy.

It treats the symptom, not the source.

It’s like standing downstream with a pile of lifejackets while people keep falling in.

⸻

What If We Looked Upstream?

If the proposed billionaire tax moves forward, it will generate billions of dollars for California. The question isn’t only how much money we raise — it’s how wisely we use it.

What if some of that funding were intentionally directed toward building systems of prevention?

Toward helping people regulate emotions, strengthen connection, and develop resilience before crisis takes hold.

What if the money went toward programs that support:

• Emotional regulation
• Nervous system education
• Social connection
• Parental support
• Community belonging
• Mental health literacy
• Teacher emotional training
• Early childhood stability

These aren’t luxuries.
They are the roots of resilience.

When people feel safe, seen, and supported early in life:

• Addiction decreases
• Violence drops
• Academic success rises
• Healthcare costs fall
• Communities strengthen

Prevention doesn’t just save money. It saves futures.

⸻

From Reaction to Renewal

What if California used this moment not only to raise funds, but to reshape the system itself?

What if we moved from a model that wastefully reacts to crisis to one that cultivates thriving?

A system that encourages:

• Lives to flourish
• Hearts to connect
• Minds to be clear

When people feel grounded, supported, and emotionally equipped, fewer end up in the river at all.

And perhaps — just perhaps — if the wealthiest among us saw their contributions helping to build something wiser and more preventative, some might feel inspired to give even more.

Not out of obligation. But out of compassion.

Not as a loss. But as a meaningful investment in the future of our shared home.

⸻

The Cost of Waiting

When we wait until people are drowning:

• The solutions are more expensive
• The suffering is deeper
• The outcomes are harder to change
• The healing takes longer

We spend billions on crisis care
because we invested too little in emotional education.

We fund emergency systems
because we underfund human connection.

If new tax revenue simply flows into the same reactive structures, we risk, or even guarantee, repeating a cycle that hasn’t delivered the lasting stability Californians deserve.

⸻

This Isn’t About Blame. It’s About Vision.

Most people want to help. We care about one another.

The real question isn’t whether we should support people — it’s how early, how wisely, and how deeply we invest in human well-being.

Do we want to keep reacting to pain?
Or do we want to prevent it?

A wealth tax can be a tool — but only if it funds transformation, not just maintenance.

⸻

Lifejackets Matter — But So Does the Bridge

We should always help people in the water.
Compassion demands it. But wisdom asks us to build the bridge.

To calm the current.
To teach people how to swim.
To reduce the reasons people jump in at all.

If California is going to ask its wealthiest residents to contribute more, let’s ensure that those resources are used not only to respond to crisis — but to prevent it for generations to come.

Because when fewer people fall,
fewer lives need rescued.

Warmly,
Deniece Smith
Founder of Our Mettaverse

11/15/2025

AI is changing faster than any of us imagined, and our leaders are struggling to keep up. Instead of blaming them, we can help by offering clarity, education, and partnership. We need simple guardrails that protect people while still allowing innovation to grow. And as jobs shift, we need real support for workers, families, and communities. This is a moment for collaboration and compassion. We can shape the future of work together—stronger, wiser, and more prepared.

https://www.ourmettaverse.org/post/ai-congress-and-the-future-of-work-what-we-can-do-right-now

AI is moving faster than our institutions, and Congress can’t regulate what it doesn’t yet understand. We need clear questions, balanced guardrails, and strong workforce support as jobs shift. Innovation must stay alive while people stay protected. With education, collaboration, and compassion, ...

10/30/2025

Join Our Mettaverse tonight as First Responder, Cary Smith, shares with us what it's like to get the call.

Get an intimate look into the mindset of a first responder as Harbor Patrol Training Officer Cary Smith shares his experiences with us both in rescue and recovery.

10/10/2025

Tonight at 6PM Pacific time, join us and the wonderful Geshe Legtsok for an intimate talk and some lovely meditations on death. Simply click below and press join at 6PM.

Send a message to learn more

10/02/2025

Join us tomorrow evening, October 2nd at 6PM PST to review what we've learned in Our Mettaverse and how we apply it to real life.

Join us as we reflect on the wisdom we've shared in Our Mettaverse. Together we'll celebrate how these practices show up in daily life--and welcome fresh voices to the circle.

09/30/2025

When Passions Collide, Magic Happens
By Deniece Smith

Have you ever noticed how different work feels when we bring our authentic passions into it? Suddenly, what once felt like obligation shifts into something alive, creative, and even joyful.

I was reminded of this recently when a colleague shared about her brother, an architect, who first discovered his love of design while building parade floats. What started as a playful, imaginative hobby spun forward into a career where his unique creativity shines in every project. His passion didn’t stay in one lane—it flowed into his profession, shaping him into an architect with vision, imagination, and flair.

That’s the beauty of combining passions: the overlap creates something greater than the sum of its parts.

When we bring what we love into our work, we shift our entire intention. Instead of drudging through a task, we approach it with an open mind, curious eyes, and fresh energy. What was once reluctance becomes excitement. What felt like “have to” transforms into “get to.” This kind of energy isn’t just personal—it’s contagious. It uplifts teams, clients, and communities.

For me, this lesson shows up in being a teacher of compassion. The more I share it, the more I see people light up with enthusiasm, eager to weave kindness and care into their daily lives. Compassion combined with everything—whether it’s teaching, real estate, or everyday interactions—turns ordinary moments into opportunities for connection. And when others join in, the happiness multiplies.

Especially in real estate, I see how passion transforms outcomes. A house isn’t just square footage and finishes—it’s a place where dreams, safety, and memories unfold. When I bring in my love for listening deeply and connecting with people, I’m not just selling property—I’m helping create a steady shelter that reflects who people are and who they’re becoming.

In Our Mettaverse, the compassion community we are building, combining passions is our heartbeat. Whether it’s weaving together mindfulness, more intentional family care, group meditation, or community practices, every person’s authentic contribution strengthens the whole. When we blend these different currents of passion, we create something imaginative, supportive, and healing.

Give yourself permission to bring your whole self into what you do. Let your passions overlap. Let your creativity spill into your work. You might just discover that when passions collide, magic happens. Happiness follows.

09/25/2025

Have you ever wondered about death and how to handle it from all perspectives? Maybe from the one who is passing, maybe from the family member side, maybe from the caretaker side?? Come tonight and join us for a live Q & A with Author and Buddhist Therapist Karuna Cayton. 6:30-8:00 Pacific Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6507778889?omn=88007883212

09/20/2025

Returning to the office has pluses and minuses. Here are some thoughts.

by Deniece SmithAs we move toward a return to five days a week in the office, many are carrying a mix of emotions. Some are excited to see familiar faces again and return to familiar rhythms. Others are worried about how this change will affect family life, commute times, or personal energy. Both re...

09/14/2025

Join , author of the newly published 2025 and Our Mettaverse for a two-part series September 18th and 25th 6:30 - 8:00 PM Pacific Time. Together, we will explore the inevitability of death and how familiarity can dissolve fear. The first session will focus on the myth of reality, while the second will uncover the myth of only living once. With Karuna’s gift for making profound ideas, both clear and thought-provoking, this series offers a unique chance to meet life‘s greatest questions with courage and insight.

09/10/2025

“If we see something as illusionary, it gives us the prospect of just creating a better illusion.

Fully understanding the myth of identity allows us to be completely fluid with the way we approach our life, our problems, our joys, and our loves. When we no longer have to be stuck on one identity because we understand the lack of salinity in all of our identities, we take control of how and who we wish to be. ”

Karuna Cayton