Why is it that we can offer our best selves when we are out in the world, yet the moment the front door clicks shut, we treat our surroundings with a carelessness we would never show someone entering our home? We know how to prepare ourselves for others, but we often forget to extend that … Read more
Why do we treat our lives like a race with no finish line? We live in a world that constantly whispers that we need to do more. We stack our schedules, accumulate more tasks, and push ourselves to the absolute brink, all under the illusion that stopping equals failing. It is an exhausting way … Read more
Sometimes, you might need a personal consultation on how to meditate or overcome specific obstacles that hinder your practice. I believe my advice will be useful to those who consider meditation a part of their spiritual journey. As a lay follower, I do my best to embody the Buddha’s teachings in my daily life, no matter … Read more
Have you ever imagined mindfulness as your best friend? An interesting perspective on this issue comes from the book Satipatthana: A Practice Guide by a scholar-monk Bhikkhu Analayo. In the chapter titled “Cultivating Mindfulness,” he makes the following comparison: Although mindfulness requires cultivation, being a quality that needs to be established, such cultivation is not … Read more
As a poet and meditator, John Brehm believes that poetry can deepen our spiritual practice. Over the many years of teaching, he’s found a simple method of leading discussions that elicits lively engagement, leads to profound insights, and helps us live in the present moment. He begins by reading the poem aloud, or having … Read more