Creative strategies for better living
What would happen if all your usual methods of preoccupation and distraction were taken away. All the talking, moving, doing, reading was given over to gentle self-inquiry? How would it be to simply sit in silence allowing yourself to make contact with your moment to moment experience? At Easter I decided to forego family get…
I’ve just returned from forest bathing in Japan. A friend and I walked the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage route that wends its way through a series of Shinto Buddhist shrines. For five days and six nights we immersed ourselves in nature, waking each day with the sole purpose of putting one foot in front…
A very old Chinese Taoist story describes a farmer in a poor country village. His neighbours considered him very well-to-do. He owned a horse which he used for ploughing and for transportation. One day his horse ran away. All his neighbours exclaimed how terrible this was, but the farmer simply said “Maybe.” A few days…
If you were to describe your life at the moment, I’m guessing you would use the word ‘busy.’ How many people do you know with never ending ‘to-do’ lists? If someone asks you how you are – How often would you reply ‘Good….but busy.’ Why are we so obsessed with packing our schedules, thinking a mile…
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. – Oscar Wilde. Is it possible that change is difficult because we are going about it the wrong way? With great bravado we set out on a course of dramatic ‘self improvement’, dragging ourselves out of bed for gruelling boot camp sessions, signing…