The mindful teacher

Over the last few years I've worked with  many  phrases that help me stay mindful and aware. One of these is " Are you sure? " A simple phrase, but so powerful.  "Are you sure" points directly to the fallibility of our thoughts and ideas, and how we often jump to conclusions- and then actions- without evidence or certainty. While this is sometimes no big deal, at other times it really is a big deal.  Look at any daily newspaper. How many people act out before carefully considering the truth of their assumptions? How much suffering is caused by incomplete information, bias, or outright lies? How much tension in a relationship comes from misinterpreting someone's words or tone?  "Are you sure?", is shorthand for, "Are you sure of your perceptions?" , according to Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Are you sure?   follows the middle path between suppression and impulsiveness. It just asks us to pause and make sure we are in possession o...

Working with the breath can be considered the cornerstone of mindfulness practice. When I first started working with the breath about 14 years ago, it was an incredible relief to realize that I could locate my awareness to another part of my experience, other then the ruminating mind. Don't get me wrong; thinking is an amazing gift that humans have, and is responsible for art, poetry, literature, design and a host of other abilities that we use everyday, every moment. But thinking can also be harmful when it takes the form of worry, obsession, rumination, confusion, judgement, and negative self-talk.  At one point in my life, the negative forms of thinking began to dominate, leading to a serious bout of depression and anxiety. Meditation practices, specifically focusing on the breath, offered a way to slow down the racing thoughts, and give the attention another place to hang out. It's as if we've been spending all our time in a dismal, cramped apartment, and suddenly find ...