Happy Holidays! Itâs such a potent time of year isnât it? Itâs a time of endings and beginnings as we close one year and begin a fresh new year. Many of us are thinking about new years resolutions and taking stock at this time, but how many of those typical resolutions are just âselfâ improvement…
Imagine yourself climbing a great mountain. High above the ground, you cleave to the rocks. You move very deliberately, aware of every placement of your foot, the angles of your body, how your hand grips every protruding stone. There is no room for error; one lapse in attention can cost you your life. You focus…
The Buddha was a wellspring of wisdom and clarity. He gave so many wonderful, clear and concise teachings. Here are my favourite three bits of advice that he ever gave to his disciples⌠1.âPeace comes from within. Do not seek it without.â ⨠Buddha states here, clearly and succinctly, the core teaching of every spiritual tradition…
Through my study of the world wisdom traditions and my journey into mindful living, I have learned many valuable lessons which have brought me greater peace, joy and fulfillment. Here are 21 of the greatest spiritual lessons Iâve learned: 1. The worldâs wisdom traditions have one central message that I have learned to live and…
When I teach my mindfulness retreats and courses I like to share poetry, quotes and passages about mindfulness. Mindfulness poetry like this conveys important messages for our lives and our meditation practice. People always ask me for these poems at the end of the retreats. Since I am so frequently asked for them I thought you might…
There is no doubt that there is a growing interest in mindfulness these days. In fact, mindfulness is said to be one of the fastest growing trends in the world and the word [mindfulness] has witnessed a fivefold increase in Google searches over the past 10 years. Many people are taking courses and retreats to…
Like any other meditation, walking meditation should be a purposeful act. Most of the time, when we are walking, we tend to âdaydreamâ. We may start planning what weâll make for dinner, or wondering how the presentation will go next week or we may ruminate over our recent problems or upsets. Instead of letting this…
What jumps to mind when you think of some of the biggest threats people face today when it comes to their health and well-being? Stress has skyrocketed from being considered an epidemic to pandemic in only 30 years. In 1983, one Time magazine cover story was âThe Epidemic of the Eighties.â Their survey showed that…
In this digital age we live in, technology provides us with incredible opportunities and conveniences but at the same time scientists tell us there is a hidden danger. Constant connectivity can create fragmentation of the mind. This state commonly referred to as âdigital overloadâ leads the brain to remain in a hyper alert and distracted…
This poem by Rumi would have to be one of the most frequently recited poems in mindfulness retreats and courses around the world. I love all of his poetry but this is definitely one of my personal favourites. It just gets to the heart of mindful living in the most eloquent and beautiful way. The…