Mindfulness

Berthold Auerbach once wrote that music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. This is what happens when you listen to “The Hidden Valley,” a masterpiece by a Norwegian composer Peder B. Helland. His YouTube channel, counting more than nine million followers at the time of this writing, started with a simple … Read more

Having trust in yourself and other people is one of the most important pillars of a happy and fulfilling life. Yet, trust is not a right, it’s an incredible privilege that you earn with time and patience. When you gain someone’s trust, it helps your relationships grow deeper. But at the same time, trust is … Read more

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like,” Will Rogers famously said. Indeed, in our relentless pursuit of buying and accumulation, we have become the pack-horses of our possessions. Things are in the saddle and run our lives. Instead of bringing relief, every … 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