Dubie’s Blog

Your source for the kind of wisdom only a stone monkey can provide!

A statue of a monkey holding red flowers with a sign that reads 'Here is Happiness', set against a background with an orange sunburst and green leaves. Text at the bottom says 'DURABLE HAPPINESS'.
Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day March 1, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

The urge to dominate others is born out of fear. The move toward preemptive violence is the breakdown of both imagination and courage.

There is no peace or safety to be found on the path of war only death and futility.

My friend Sir Farley Hambane standing in the window.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 28, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

Ease is once of the most difficult intentions I set for my day.

The attempt to be comfortable and accepting of the conditions of the moment where the conditions for joy and happiness are something I already have rather than something to strive for.

Convincing my monkey mind to sit and tell me what it has learned rather than chasing it into the forest in a race to understanding.

At ease, doubt finds no home.

Early morning sun in the trees.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 27, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

We fear the future when our self-doubt tells us we are incapable of learning the lessons of the past.

Don't believe it.

Pink cascading orchids.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 26, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

What is Durable Happiness?

We are surrounded by a world that demands our attention, our sadness, our anger, our outage. Join a side! Belittle your enemies!

How is happiness possible amidst this cacophony? How do we put ourselves in a position to respond to the world around us with compassion and thoughtfulness? How do we avoid becoming just more fodder for the conflict?

It starts with a commitment to inner peace; to face, accept, and come to love the parts of ourselves we avoid thinking about. When we stop seeking ways to escape ourselves, the external distractions become less appealing and lose their power to compel a response from us.

This is freedom.

This is liberation.

This is the power to choose what you value and take actions that manifest those values. The power to unshackle yourself from toxic ideologies and begin to live thoughtfully.

This is the nature of Durable Happiness.

A stone monkey chilling, deep in the knowledge that there is happiness in this very moment.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 25, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

We exist in super position, always in motion, living in the flow of constant transformation.

We are not fixed points plotted along a path. We are the limitless

A stone monkey doing his best…

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 23, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

I love a good snow storm. Watching the wind bend the bare trees as the flakes pile up with a sense of inevitably; unconcerned that we may have “important" things to do.

Being confronted directly by forces so much greater than my small influence over the world is freeing.

I think my intention for today is humility, to just enjoy the storm without thinking it should be any other way.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 22, 2026

Dubie’s Thought of the Day:

Snow Day”

Everyone is waiting,
anticipating the snow
cuddled up with their favorite beings
in the coziest places they can find.

The delicious build up of grey clouds;
the heaviness of the air as it prepares itself to support the snow.

Then it comes.

The shush of the flakes falling through the cold stillness
telling us that our projects are going nowhere today,
hinting that it is a far better idea to rest in the gift of quiet.

The soft deluge asserts itself as my only concern for today
And I can claim no desire to disagree.

So, tongue out
head back
I stare up into the gentle spiral of falling flakes.

Snowy front yard.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 21, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

I could be wrong, but i don't think my friend Farley spends much time worried about what it means to be a dog…

He lives a luxurious life.

My friend Farley.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 20, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

When we allow ourselves to view the world through unfamiliar perspectives we chip away at the walls of our ego which over time allows us to see our surroundings more clearly.

This is the great tunneling out.

Freeing ourselves from the conditioned knowledge and stories that obstruct our view.

Snuggly pups in the morning light.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 19, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

Our current system is good at creating and satisfying wants. Draining resources chasing the always multiplying whims of an ever decreasing few.

The next step is to transform the way of life that gave us the ability to create whatever we can imagine into an adaptive system that is good at identifying and satisfying needs.

Leveraging shared resources and imagination for shared purposes.

The orchids at the botanical gardens.

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 18, 2026

Dubie's Thought of the Day:

I like to start each day by declaring an intention. Not a goal, like do the dishes, but more of a character for the day; a value to prioritize when making decisions.

Happiness, focus, kindness, fearlessness, joy…

Some intentions are easier than others, but all of them teach me about my habits and perspectives; presenting an opportunity to keep, discard, or update them.

Dubie grinning because he knows we’re all in on the joke….

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

Thought of the Day February 17, 2026

Destruction clears the way for growth. Don't mourn the loss of failed systems and institutions; this is our opportunity to build something better.

Dawn breaks every day.

Welcome to the year of the Fire Horse!

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Jason Macauley Jason Macauley

The Windy Monastery

A guest post from my friend Mac…

This month saw my return to Blue Cliff Monastery in the Catskill Mountains on a cold and blustery weekend.  Despite the -4℉ temperature coupled with a 30 mph winds coming off the mountains, the experience was warm and cozy in a way that our visit in August struggled to match.  I’m sure it was a function of knowing what to expect going in and being more confident with an additional six months of practice under my belt.  Between meditation in the great hall which blew up like a balloon with each gust of gail force wind there were cups of tea with new friends and amazing discussions about the power of love and compassion to change the world.  It was another transformative experience that I’m sure I’ll be digging into for months, including a new found appreciation for chanting.

Upon returning home with a deep sense of peace I wrote a poem about my time in meditation at the aptly dubbed “Windy Monastery”.

The Windy Monastery

The great hall breathes with us as we sit in meditation

timbers expand 

creaking to accommodate the rush of the wind until

the weightless pause at the height 

lasting just for a moment 

then the long slow out breath

the scent of incense eddies in the stillness

at home in the quiet 

as the diligent practice of ladybugs continued to 

explore depths only they can know

breathing in   

creak

breathing out

creak

this moment 

    with the winter wind hurtling down the ridgeline outside

this moment 

    suspended between breaths

this moment 

    the great hall rests.

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