We use our meditation practice to help us become more aware of our thoughts and notice how our minds work or react to outside stimuli, and I just witnessed my mind go from a cloudless sun-filled day to gray skies and thunderstorms just...
I'm compiling a project for Shambhala Publications called "35<35." It is meant to provide an opportunity for younger practitioners of all Buddhist sanghas to express themselves, find each other, and strengthen a sense of sangha...
Being good enough is a practice, one that combines lots of Buddhist skills: patience, acceptance, loving kindness, appreciation, generosity. It requires nonjudgmental, kind, present-moment awareness.
I think Buddhism often gets a bad reputation because of the Four Noble Truths. People hear the first part about how life is suffering and think, “Man, that Buddha dude was a real pessimist.” I’ve been thinking about this a lot...
Abby and I got a new puppy. He's terribly cute. He's also like a 3 year old. Actually, a one year old - no real language comprehension, no potty training and I'm sure every moment is either terribly confusing or rapturously alive for...
I absolutely love when the Dharma shows up in unexpected places. It’s so often serendipitous and beautifully ironic. This week I’ve been chuckling about Caribou Coffee’s motto and ad campaign: “Life is short. Stay awake for...
Last week I had a bit of an emotional meltdown. Nothing to cause alarm, just a recurring bluesy feeling about myself. But somewhere in the middle of it, the emotions felt so oddly foreign (despite my being in their throes) that I wondered if I was...
This week, IDP activism director Adreanna Limbach interviews Stuart Moody and Beth Terry of the Green Sangha, a San Francisco Bay Area based group working to advance spiritually grounded environmental activism. This is the third of a three part...
There’s this girl, or rather I should say there’s this woman. She’s not perfect, but just like all other sentient beings she wants to be happy. Sometimes she goes about her pursuit of happiness in funny ways. ...
I’m not sure if it's the summer heat or the fact that I've been without a home and couch-surfing for the past 5 months, but I've been feeling a little crazy lately. I've let some thoughts spin out of control, obsessing over...
A few weeks ago, I received an email from my best friend in Japan. We’ve known each other since middle school where everyday was filled with shrieking laughter and endless gossip. We went to the same college, where she studied economics; I...
Near the end of his life, the Buddha gathered his disciples around and stood silently before them for quite some time. At one point he reached down, plucked a flower from the grass, and held it up for everyone to see. Still, he didn...
Do I have some understanding of the longing to not be a parent? Yes. Does that mean I would look away while someone hurt a child or let them off without punishment if there were proof that they did it? No.
Imma break it down for you. My body is tired and tight and I ran waaaaaay too much not to stretch while I was in Provincetown with my love. Unfortunately, I didn't stretch. Well, I didn't stretch sufficiently. Now I'm in pain, tight,...
This week, IDP activism director Adreanna Limbach interviews Stuart Moody and Beth Terry of the Green Sangha, a San Francisco Bay Area based group working to advance spiritually grounded environmental activism. This is the second of a three part...
So to touch on what I was discussing last week, taking away the result of what you ultimately think your actions will create and just focus on your action. This has helped me greatly in staying in the moment. In the now. So...
