In Zen practice we do not treat our teachers like gurus to be worshipped but tend to treat them like wise aunts and uncles who’ve been scouting the trail ahead of us, perhaps made similar mistakes, and are offering us their condensed wisdom as guidance.
I didn’t go to India to put on a Hindu costume; I got into Vedic teachings to uncover all the costumes I’d been wearing and to find out what I was at my core. The sacred literature of India explained this in a way that gave me the broadest understanding of spirituality I’d ever had.
The path of awakening is different for everyone, and the truth is that there is no set path, as each and every one of us is unique. In the same way, no two people will require the same level of help or support to navigate their way towards sacred union with the divine within.
If we find ourselves in a supposedly hopeless situation from which we see no issue, or if we are tired of fighting an illness that seems to drag on endlessly, or burdened with “impossible” family or work difficulties, it is time to discover or remember that we are cupped in the mighty hands of divine Love...
In loving and forgiving ourself in order to save ourself, we expand this love to everyone. Many ancient and medieval women mystics personified this theme...
On March 17, people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by parading in green hats, sporting images of shamrocks and leprechauns.
The catalog of current and past warfare, genocides, and atrocities that occur far and near, and in our own history, are all extreme instances of the deluded dynamic of separateness and greed that characterizes our human experience.
Zen Buddhism presents a path of enlightenment that digs deep into the art of mindfulness, compassion, and a profound bond with the surrounding world.
Before his near-death experience in 2008, Dr. Eben Alexander—who taught and performed neurosurgery at the Harvard Medical School—concurred with most of his fellow scientists by assuming that the brain produces consciousness. But after a close brush with death following a week-long coma...
It is by looking at our ancient past that we can identify our deep connections to cats and our eventual attachment of spiritual characteristics to them.
If we turn our minds to the spiritual and remain mindful throughout our day, our lives will become more joyful. We’ll find an increased sense of gratitude and contentment, and we’ll experience an ease and lightness in all we do.
In the “apparent” world many are those who let themselves be frightened by the chaos, the crisis, the change that involves every cell and therefore everybody.
Bereavement—indeed, loss of any sort—causes many feelings, such as shock, distress, anguish, disbelief, and anger, a whole emotional roller-coaster. Our normal every-day routine is shattered, and we face the difficult task of having to rebuild life in a new way...
The Book of Kells is a late-eighth century illustrated copy of the four gospels of the New Testament, traditionally associated with the affiliated monasteries of Iona in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland and Kells in County Meath, Ireland.
Occasionally, I experience one of those little moments in life that remind me that I'm not alone. Here is a collection of moments that, while small, I have not taken for granted.
The following text is my favorite story of the dozens and dozens I have heard in a well-lived life of 86 years. It describes what many consider the most important spiritual attitude with love – a constant sense of The Presence.
The prevailing belief in free will, deeply embedded in our psyche, convinces us that we are the architects of our decisions and, consequently, bearers of the outcomes.
There is no doubt that grief can be exhausting, draining, and make one feel generally run down, so that coping with everyday things, such as work and looking after the home, becomes much more of a struggle than it would be normally.
It was a cruel synergist that moved me to explore life’s deepest mysteries. This had been my father’s path, but it was not mine—at least not until now.
“No-thought” comes from a Zen expression that literally means “the mind without the mind.” This refers to a mind that is calm, balanced, and unoccupied by self-centered thoughts or emotion...
Perhaps the most important thing that spirituality can teach us is that it is possible for us to cultivate connection. We don’t have to live in a state of disconnection.
September 2026 begins at a powerful turning point as eclipse season winds down and...
Letting go of the past doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means releasing the...
How much of yesterday are you still carrying today?
In a world of swipes, matches, texts and disappearing conversations, sometimes the most...
Some temptations don't announce themselves as trouble. They arrive softly, offering...
What if the rules women grew up with were never really rules at all? The Invisible Cage...
What does freedom mean when the nearest emergency room is forty miles away? “Forty Miles...
Fears about the future often stem from past experiences, leading to...
A strong relationship thrives on unconditional surrender, trust, and a commitment to...
Why do we keep doing things we know aren't good for us? The answer may have less to do...
You already know you're tired. You've known it since you hit snooze for the third time...
The concept of hell has evolved significantly from ancient Greek and Roman literature to...