Ten years ago, when I was an undergrad, I felt alone. I was known for two things around campus: the first was being a “hardcore” Buddhist and the second always being up for going out on the town with friends. I would drink, have sex, and do a lot of...
Many years ago when I was pregnant with my son, I decided to have a home birth without drugs, assisted by a midwife. My hope was to be as wakeful and present as possible during the birth, and while I knew the pain would be intense, I trusted...
Is there a thread that ties together the runaway cost of healthcare, the epidemic rise of obesity and school violence, the bursting of the latest financial bubble, and the present dangers of terrorism and global warming?
As a boy I really loved watching fireflies light up the night as they hovered around silently in the dark, warm air.
One evening I so desperately wanted to prolong their spectacular light show that I thought it best to get a glass...
I got snippy with a guy the other day. I could see the surprise on this face, so I realized I needed to turn down the volume. I felt a bit embarrassed and he felt a bit hurt. We went on with our conversation, pretending like nothing...
Good, you came. Probably for the cats, but that's ok, I like cats too. And, yes, I'll talk about cat yogis, but first I have to tell you about a meditation experience I had.
by Patrick Groneman
Saw this yesterday while walking back from an eye-exam.
It's a great example of how a word, when stripped of its cultural context can take on new meaning, and then be used over and over again, until that new meaning...
What does it mean to be “awake”? We say it all the time. I am lucky to have very intelligent students here in Seattle who are not afraid to ask me: What the heck does that mean?
Is it just some hokey bullshit we Buddhists like to strive for, the way...
I was stunned by the news that Jesse was in critical condition with pneumonia and heart failure. We had just talked the week before about his passion—bringing mindfulness to teens. He was in his early thirties and one of the most bright,...
Life is beautiful and full of pain. When we feel something painful in our hearts, our instinct is to escape. We can be like little kids, seeing a bee and running away in terror.
This being human is a guest house.Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, Some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!...The dark thought, the shame, the malice,...
People often tell me that they really want to mediate but they’re too busy - there’s just not enough time. We all have a lot of things going on like jobs, school, families, and other responsibilities, so I frequently hear from clients and students...
by Kimberly Brown
(follow me on Twitter)
"People with opinions just go around bothering each other." (Attributed to The Buddha)These days, it seems like everyone has an opinion, everyone is expected to share their opinion, and everyone must...
