Gavril Nikolaev
Sharon Salzberg came into my life a few years ago when I stumbled upon her Metta Hour podcast — a chance encounter that revealed the host to be the voice of kindness and compassion in today’s fractured world. Of all the episodes I’ve listened, my favorite one is called “Foundations of Forgiveness.” Why this particular … Read more
The story goes that when a thief broke into a little hut at the foot of a mountain, the wise Zen master Ryokan, very much undisturbed by the intruder, welcomed him with open arms and said, “You have come a long way to visit me and you should not return empty-handed.” And then, in a … Read more
If you’re looking for books by Andy Puddicombe, you’ve probably seen his TED talk on mindfulness. What struck me most the first time I saw it is that we spend 47% of our time lost in thought — that’s almost half of our waking hours spent ruminating on the past or being anxious about the … Read more
I recently found myself looking for books on the history of mindfulness. I thought the task would be easy but got quickly overwhelmed by the variety of reads on the subject. While doing research, I came across titles on the history of Buddhism, as well as secular how-to guides on meditation. But none of them … Read more
Sometimes, reading a book can be a profound meditation in itself — an experience where warmth and solitude merge together to soothe your whole being. Such is The Deepest Peace: Contemplations from a Season of Stillness by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel. Both an offering and meditation, her prose is rich with insights into transformation and mysteries of … Read more