Have you noticed a buildup of negative energy and want to release it? The great Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said that “trouble is easily overcome before it starts.” When applied to your situation, it means that sometimes it’s easier to prevent a buildup of negativity than trying to release it later. I’ve recently … Read more
My meditation practice, which I started in 2014, changed the way I live my life. It revealed a spiritual dimension that that was obscured by my atheism. This, in turn, helped me overcome burnout that made me feel like everything I did or achieved lacked meaning. Since then, I’ve been documenting my journey on this … 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
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
How do we read a haiku? A surprising primer on this art comes from a slim volume by Yoel Hoffmann titled Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death. In the introductory part of the book, we learn that a haiku consists of seventeen syllables written in three … Read more