A wound takes time to heal.All around the world—from Myanmar to Minneapolis—we see the deep need for healing in our families, communities and society. We need to heal from the wounds of colonialism, slavery, racism, sexual violence, hate and poverty....

It’s been a long year since the pandemic started, one that revealed so much that was already wrong with our world: injustice, violence, and gross inequities.Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere. Amidst so much hardship mix...

I was shocked to hear the words come out of my mouth: “Is it really okay to wish myself well? To want to be happy?”We were less than 48 hours into a week-long, silent lovingkindness retreat, where one strengthens kindness through the focused repetiti...

Here where I live in California, spring is in the air. The plum trees are blooming and the days are getting longer, which lifts my heart naturally.There are countless ways to uplift the heart—from gratitude to friendship, from creativity to service....

How do we not lose heart when hard times drag on?Here in the US we’re approaching the one year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of the people I’m in touch with are hitting a wall. The monotony, the stress of schools being closed, the isolation...

One of the most common misconceptions about meditation is that you have to stop thinking.Anyone who’s tried knows how futile this is. The mind can get still and quiet, but this comes through relaxation and patient, gentle effort, not an act of will.W...

During these long pandemic months, one thing that's come to mind repeatedly is how small acts can have a lasting impact in life, for better or worse. This is one of the reasons the Buddha stressed the importance of kaliyana–mitta, ‘wise companio...

I took a walk with an old friend recently. We were talking about some of the difficulties we'd each overcome in our lives, and the struggles we still faced in our personal relationships. Sitting on a bench, looking out over the Redwood park, she turn...

Dear friends,Tomorrow in the U.S., we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.I find strength and reassurance in the timeless reminders from Dr. King to undertake the demanding practice of love as a path to healing, justice, and true...

If you're still reeling from the events of the last week, rest assured: you're not alone. After such a stressful year, the events in the U.S. capitol pushed many of us over our limit, reflecting the deep divisions in society and the glaring realities...