We don’t really get seasons here in Thailand: there’s hot and wet, or hotter and wetter. Noah and his ark come to mind right now as deluge hits the streets of Bangkok. I’m just back from an amazing 4 days at New Life Foundation in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, where I shared tools and practicesContinue reading “New Life”
Category Archives: Psychology
Ashtanga Yoga and Beginners Mind — Part 2
When I first started on this path 20 years ago (see last week’s post if you missed that) I was a grad student training to be a psychotherapist. Yoga was a way to develop a connection to my body, to heal the disconnect after a lifetime of unhealthy relationships that mirrored patterns I had learnedContinue reading “Ashtanga Yoga and Beginners Mind — Part 2”
Dynamics of Flow
Have you ever had one of those rudderless weeks when direction seems random, solid ground a far-off illusion? Not that this is necessarily bad. Floating without apparent destination can be extremely relaxing for a spell. I like to think of it as living “dynamic flow.” It’s easy to get caught up in modernity’s insistence onContinue reading “Dynamics of Flow”
Art, Life
I found these inspiring words by The Artist’s Way author, Julia Cameron recently. Try substituting the word “life” for “art.” It is all too easy to think of art as something we aspire to, an ideal by which to measure our efforts and find them falling woefully short. Well, that is one way to thinkContinue reading “Art, Life”
4 Ways to Get a Grip When Things Fall Apart
If you are like many of us these days, you may be feeling the sharp edges of impermanence. Whether you attribute it to global warming, economic crisis, pole shifting, dramatic upheavals in weather patterns, or a mass rebellion against one too many passwords to memorize, change is in the air. Ok, I’ll admit, it feelsContinue reading “4 Ways to Get a Grip When Things Fall Apart”
a vote for independence–and integrity
“Despite the clarity of the teachings, we often lose sight of this essential aim of eradicating mental poisons and self-clinging. In fact, instead of eliminating those poisons, we often end up increasing them. For example, people that practice the Dharma have a tendency to gather together and organize themselves. They create institutions, Dharma centers, andContinue reading “a vote for independence–and integrity”
The Birth of Awareness
A version of this article appeared in the April issue of Namaskar. In the eight-limbed path of Ashtanga yoga, it is said that the first four limbs are techniques we can practice, whereas the second four limbs arise after sustained effort and discipline, and with a little sprinkling of grace. This may lead to someContinue reading “The Birth of Awareness”
the zen of warriorship
Good advice from the past, still as valid today as in 1939 when this poster was created to raise morale for British soldiers… Or, as Douglas Adams used to advise in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Don’t Panic! And bring a towel.
Losar Tashi Delek!
The Year of the Water Dragon is upon us, since the new moon last Wednesday. Dragon is said to be a bearer of good fortune and a master of authority. Mythic creatures awed by all, the supernatural powers of Dragon are legendary, and he is recognized as a symbol of wealth. The Dragon indicates anContinue reading “Losar Tashi Delek!”
The Ground of Confidence
A version of this article appeared in the January 2102 issue of Namaskar. Maybe you know the story: you lose your job, get dumped by your boyfriend or girlfriend, then the cat runs away and you tear your hamstring, all in the same week. Your morale takes a plunge. After all the work you’ve doneContinue reading “The Ground of Confidence”
Diary of a Pilgrim 