Published in Age of Awareness·May 3Argue Like a Buddha: The 4 Skillful Responses to ConflictConflict is the basis of all growth — You hear a lot from Buddhism about how to deal with conflicts that are inside your own mind and body. What you don’t hear as much about is how to deal with conflict out in the world. At first glance, engaging in conflict seems contrary to the virtues of Buddhism…Mindfulness10 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Apr 29The Hidden Cult Agenda of Meditation Retreats“Spiritual bypassing often adopts a rationale based on using absolute truth to deny or disparage relative truth” —John Welwood I’ve never been so calm and infuriated after a mediation retreat. I was lucky. In such a place a few years ago, I may have come out buzzing with self-generated ecstasy…Mindfulness14 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 235 Ways to Turn Your Workouts Into MeditationsTurn physical growth into inner growth — I’d down a strong cup of coffee, lose myself in the music, and push my body as hard as possible. If it was a good workout, the time would pass in an instant and I would emerge a few hours later barely able to walk and dripping in sweat. But…Mindfulness9 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 14The Secret to Meditation Explained In A Shocking ParableThe secret is there are no secrets. — One day, a Zen master said to his oldest student it was time for him to learn the highest teaching on the path of meditation (self-knowledge). The student bowed and said to the master: “Thank you, master. I have waited most if not all of my life for this moment…Mindfulness5 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 25, 2021The 3 Laws Of Self-Compassion Will Make You TougherYou can’t be compassionate and irresponsible at the same time — “Self-compassion” is one of those phrases that can trigger an almost instant roll of the eyes. It can conjure up images of self-indulgent behavior like allowing yourself that extra piece of cake because you deserve it. …Mindfulness8 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 21, 2021Happiness Is A Choice— According To The Most Influential Psychotherapist You’ve Never Heard ofAlfred Adler denied trauma and said happiness is a choice — You lie back and, while staring up at a blank ceiling, talk about whatever comes to mind. A small, older man with a big mustache sits in the corner and takes notes. …Philosophy10 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 10, 2021How to Make Zoom Less Exhausting—According to Stanford Researchers“Our minds are together when our bodies feel we’re not.“ — In February 2020, investors raced to buy shares of the company with the identifier of “ZOOM” on the stock market. In the span of a month, shares of the company had increased nearly sevenfold. …Mindfulness7 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 8, 202110 Zen Stories That Remind You Not To Take Life So Seriously“Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you.”—Carl Jung — I collect Zen stories. I love to read them whenever I’m feeling like things are getting too heavy or I need a quick pick-me-up. Which seems to be more and more often these days. You’d think it’d be the opposite. There’s more advice available on how to live well than…Mindfulness5 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 3, 20215 Things Training To Do a Handstand Taught Me About LifeThe body is our first and greatest teacher — How many philosophers have you seen doing a handstand? Not many, I bet. They’re too busy writing and reading books and mulling over stuff to play around with silly handstands. I mean, what could you possibly learn from doing a handstand that you couldn’t from all the world’s literature on…Life Lessons8 min read
Published in Age of Awareness·Mar 1, 2021Do These 4 Things To Prepare For Meditation—If You Feel StuckHow you prepare is more important than how you practice — I thought meditation was about slowing down, chilling out, and becoming more accepting and appreciative of what I had. So every morning I’d get up and practice, and after a few weeks and months of it, all of my problems just seemed to melt away. Had another half-assed, unproductive day…Mindfulness8 min read
