I wonder if emotion is disappearing from the world. Perfectly cool and crisp Fall came four days ago. The weather in New York is perfectly cool and crisp—so much so that… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Buddhism
How to flourish through transitions
Fall is upon us. As the hurricanes pass through New York, I’m energized by the feeling of moving on and appreciating the rich experience of letting go—into a new beginning…. Read more »
A Monk’s Life
Last week I returned from a weeklong retreat with my teacher and the four other colleagues who form our small community of aspirants. Returning to New York from a Buddhist… Read more »
What Makes Life Good
Few people will disagree that life improves with money and love. The more one has of both, the better life is. Of course, it can happen that the pursuit… Read more »
Zen and Goya’s Graphic Imagination
At the time of this writing, my first real outing since Covid struck—other than to my temple in North Carolina—was yesterday. I ventured past my 14-block COVID-safety area to the Metropolitan… Read more »
Renew Your Wind-Swept Spirit With Basho’s Poetry
Self-Renewal happens in spite of our designs. The sun warms mountainsides. Our cells regenerate. With Spring—in New York—comes primeval frustration. Friends shout among themselves with a kind of crazed, ebullient… Read more »
How To Be Zen About Life
A couple of years ago a family friend of mine, in his seventies, said to me, “I don’t give a sh*t about my death. I don’t care.” We were… Read more »
7 Tips to Help You Embark on a Journey of Self Discovery
Self-discovery is the process of asking oneself, “Who am I?” The desire to answer this question is one of the most powerful motivations for contemplative practice. Despite its modern reputation… Read more »
How To Clear Your Mind For Meditation: 6 Actionable Steps
Most meditation advice online is purely technical. Authors tell you how to clear your mind for meditation, but they only focus on breathing and mental exercises. Such articles do not address… Read more »
Does Meditation Work for Everyone?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, meditation can improve psychological balance and assist with the treatment of illnesses. Despite the unfortunate trend of obsessing over complicated… Read more »