How eternal life is misinterpreted — I recently had an email exchange with someone who used to be a regular attendee at our local sangha. It was not a comfortable one. It left me saddened, but I feel it is a significant one, for me at least. It was based on her decision not to attend…

Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is within you — Rumi — You either get it or you don’t, I mean the entire universe is ginormous and I’m just a little human bod. It’s scientifically impossible, there’s no room to fit a universe inside me, I fill it all up with bits of me after all. Makes it easy to scoff…

A seasonal poem — A bluster of black birds scatter across pale grey skies, tossing and tumbling, old men’s socks dancing in a dryer, ducking and diving, while we huddle and shelter. Above them, silver dancers sky dive, acrobats flashing their brilliance, caught in a moment of breaching sun. The grey dispels, then is…

Thirty five years ago my life changed, for the better, but that took time and struggle. — When I was in my very early thirties I realised that although I had given it my very best shot for nearly fourteen years, and in spite of our two sons, I was going downhill nad my marriage was over. I could not hold it together any more and I…

How does this work with mindfulness? — THe buddha taught four truths, as humans we all suffer, but there is a path out of suffering, and if we learn it we can bring an end to suffering and thus lead a life free of suffering. This is, roughly speaking, the point of buddhism, to end suffering and…

Insight into how and who we love can really make a difference — I recently read an article talking about how Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) taught a young monk that he was enough just as he was, and the monk was able to accept that teaching because he trusted Thays deep wisdom and insight. Is it really that easy for the rest of…

A poem about drought — You can smell it in the distance Feel it coming through summer heat The crackling dryness softens The ground trembles beneath your feet When we have waited for so long To take this refreshing shower now the trees will all perk up The dry plants begin to flower The insects…

Why a spiritual memoir might be just as helpful as a ‘how to’ book. — Like many names here on medium, I have been writing articles on medium for what seems like years - well it is years now, since a year or so after it started, and on many different topics, and long beforethe payment scheme came into force but my main focus has…