Meditation
Buddhism vs. The Buddha
8 minute read time.. In a final edition of my upcoming book, my editor actively encouraged me to add a section explaining “about Buddhism.” I resisted this for more than a year because I like universal language, repel labels and…
Family Time Is Hard: A guide to staying sober during the holidays
Next to my place is a market filled with overpriced things like almond milk. And hummus. And Wine. It’s the kind of place you go in a hurry when you run out at the last moment. I shop here almost…
The Heat of Autumn
THE HEAT OF AUTUMN a one-day writing & meditation retreat for building inner fire This day-long contemplative writing workshop, held in deep autumn at the beautiful Theodore Wirth Pavilion, strives to create a powerful portal to the submerged creative…
Shit is an incredible fertilizer…
I met and spent the day with a Buddhist Monk this last week, Ajahn Brahm, who said in all his time teaching inside prisons he never once met a murderer or a rapist. He had only met a person who…
The Essential Teachings of a Simple Monk.
A year ago last December, on the other side of the world, I stepped off the Adam’s Peak pilgrimage path and into the back of a van, collapsing from exhaustion. The little monk who climbed with us looked over at…
Triple Truth
Day 3 reading from Bodhi Leaves Volume four, Triple Truth; #68 Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. More? Right Speech: The lunchroom…
Let yourself be open
Day 2 reading from Bodhi Leaves Volume Four; #61: Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost…
beautiful deeds
In a jungle meditation center in the hills of Kandy, Sri Lanka is an old wooden bookcase. On the top shelf sits a row of perfectly square hardcover books titled “Bodhi Leaves” and each of the small square books contain…
An introduction to Stephen Levine: Part 5
“Meditation is for many a foreign concept, somehow distant and foreboding, seemingly impossible to participate in. But another word for meditation is simply awareness. Meditation is awareness.” ― Stephen Levine, A Gradual Awakening More? This school replaced detention with meditation….