Mindfulness

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

One of the most influential Japanese poets of all time, Matsuo Basho (1644–1694) elevated haiku from a mere literary pastime into an exquisite poetic craft. Leaving his hometown of Ueno behind, he moved to Kyoto, where he studied poetry and Zen as a young man and later became a Buddhist monk. This, perhaps, is why … Read more

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

  “When you find the mind judging, you don’t have to stop it from doing that,” Jon Kabat-Zinn said while contemplating seven meditation tips to quiet your mind. “All that is required is to be aware of it happening. No need to judge the judging and make matters even more complicated for yourself.” But the … Read more