A Poem Called Love

This poem was written by Nobel Laureate Czeslaw Milosz. I found it in an old issue of Shambhala Sun. I have never been good at reading or understanding poetry, but this one registered deep in my heart. Love Love means to learn to look at yourself The way one looks at distant things For you are only one […]

The Sound Of The Bell

The bell of mindfulness is one of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh‘s most remarkable teachings. He teaches us to stop and take three breaths whenever we hear the sound of the bell. The bell could be our doorbell, our cell phone, or the beautiful bell that you will find in all Buddhist monasteries and practice […]

A Wisdom Moment With Thich Nhat Hanh

The video in this post is exceptionally beautiful. It features original music composed by the Emmy award-winning composer, Gary Mankin. The images are the original compositions of David Fortney, an internationally acclaimed director, cinematographer and editor. This images are some of the most beautiful ones that I have yet reported on. The message of the video […]

Meditation Helps Cure Cancer

The January Newsletter from Break the Norms has an article by Sarah Anne Stewart about how meditation helped a father cure cancer. This story is similar to mine in many ways. I had bladder cancer 16 years ago. During one of my meditation sessions, I came up with the following poem: Lying still, Breathing in, breathing […]

Healthy Cells Grow All By Themselves

Lying still Breathing in, breathing out Healthy cells grow all by themselves I am free of cancer. This poem came to me in a guided imagery session on the vernal equinox of 1997. It was a life changing experience to see so vividly that I was going to heal from cancer. When I told this […]

A Poem About Inner Life By Norman Fischer

Zoketsu Norman Fischer is a Zen priest in the tradition of Suzuki Roshi. When I first started learning Zen meditation in the mid 1980s, he was one of the priests I really connected to. I felt honored to be able to have dokusan (a private interview with a Zen teacher) with Norman some time around […]

Happy Continuation Joan Halifax

In celebration of the continuation day of Roshi Joan Halifax, please enjoy this poem. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh taught us that his way of saying, “Happy Birthday” is “Happy Continuation Day!” So Happy 70th Continuation Day to you Roshi Joan Halifax. LONE MALLARD A lone mallard glides across the pond without her young practicing […]

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the act of deliberately paying full attention to what is going on in the present moment without judgment. I’m sure you have experienced moments of mindfulness sometime in your life. These moments of mindfulness can come when you see a beautiful sunset or gaze down on your infant child in awe or in […]