There was a time when my mornings started the same way: Before my eyes had adjusted to the gray light filtering through the blinds, my thoughts were already filling with tomorrow’s obligations, each one quietly draining the small reserve of ease I had carried out of sleep. To cope, I would lie still beneath the … Read more
Hi there! I’m Gavril, the guy behind this blog (click here to learn why I started it in the first place). If you like what I do and want to support me, this page is for you. Keeping this blog going takes almost all of my free time, and your help makes a significant difference. … Read more
“To realize a tranquil heart and clear mind is to have gone far along the path of meditation,” writes Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh (October 11, 1926–January 22, 2022) in his book The Miracle of Mindfulness. “During meditation, various feelings and thoughts may arise,” he adds. “If you don’t practice mindfulness of the breath, … Read more
Although I own both devices, I prefer a dumbphone to a smartphone. It sounds counterintuitive, but that’s how I’m able to conserve one of the most scarce mental resources: my attention. Instead of scrolling through social media feeds, I spend my time reading, writing, and living in the present moment. It’s a powerful way to … Read more
Do you want to learn how to practice one-minute mindfulness? I’ve been reading 8 Mindful Steps to Happiness, one of the most accessible and lucid guides to cultivating awareness, by the beloved Buddhist teacher Ven. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. In the chapter titled “Beginning a Practice of Mindfulness,” in discussing what beginners can do to be … Read more