“Success means getting up at 5am, punishing ourselves at the gym and then producing, producing, producing,” writes Arwa Mahdawi in 2018 The Guardian opinion piece. “I have frequent anxiety attacks where I feel as if I’m not doing enough, achieving enough, earning enough.” As sad as it may sound, but one has to look … Read more

I firmly believe that negativity doesn’t work. Pema Chödrön’s tonglen meditation has strengthened this conviction by teaching me how to use the power of visualization to breathe in suffering and breathe out joy. Whenever I practice this technique, I’m able to release negative emotions, overcome fears, and embrace the uncertainty of what might happen next. … Read more

Ryokan (1758-1831), long beloved in Japan for his delightful verse, exquisite calligraphy, and eccentric character, belongs in the tradition of great Zen poets of Asian literature. His parents named him Eizo, but when he entered the monkhood in 1777 at the local Zen temple Kosho-ji, he adopted the name Ryokan: ryo, meaning good and kan, … Read more

“Every twenty-four-hour day is a tremendous gift to us,” writes Thich Nhat Hanh (October 11, 1926-January 22, 2022) in the opening chapter of his book You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment. “Breathe in and tell yourself that a new day has been offered to you, and you have to be here … Read more