Mindfulness

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