I have a secret to share with you: the Buddha’s teachings on sila or “ethical conduct” are actually my favorite teachings. If for some reason I was never able to formally practice meditation again, I might actually be okay, because I would still be ab... Read more

  A central aspect of mindfulness practice is learning to let go of expectations of how things should be or musings on how they should have been and rest in the experience of what is in the present moment. Practicing in this way without judging ... Read more

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”—Anne Frank “When you’re writing, you’re trying to find out something which you don’t know.”—James Baldwin I have been known to say, “The older I get, the more I... Read more

We made it (almost)! Certainly for some, 2022 can’t leave fast enough and for others, it will be a year to remember fondly. What was it for you? The end of the year often comes with gatherings with family, friends, and co-workers. Sometimes these ca... Read more

Our loved ones will one day leave us. Friends get mad and change priorities. People move away. Even a great, long marriage can end in untimely death. There is no Forever Person, and it’s a painful truth to sit with. But it is also one of the most libe... Read more

When I started meditating a long time ago, I thought there was one way to meditate. I was taught to put my attention on my breath and just watch it with my crazy mind, until I learned to accept whatever unexpected visitor, as Rumi said in the Guest Ho... Read more

Even if you’ve been meditating for many years, you probably encounter old patterns that seem impervious to your mindful awareness. This is especially true during the holidays when you may be immersed in family dynamics that reignite old patterns you t... Read more

In the year 2022 we continue to see our lives impacted by the persistent currents of personal and collective suffering like a River during a catastrophic flood that has breached its natural boundaries washing away our sense of belonging. The story of ... Read more

In September I sent my teenager off to their first day of 8th grade. The ritual of school mornings these days looks and feels a lot different than it did 8 years ago - the freshness of early childhood has given way to adolescence. Zen teacher Suzu... Read more

Over the past seventeen years I have known Venerable Dhamananda we have had many discussions about compassion. She has helped me accept that there is no magic formula to learn how to be more compassionate; it is our practice that leads us on the pathw... Read more