Do Not Complete This Thought
The piece explores a common early‑morning mental urge to "fix" an unfinished thought, which can surge within 30 seconds and trigger physical tension. It argues that the antidote isn’t analysis or action but mindful observation, citing Buddhist teachings that all experience is mind‑generated. By simply noticing the urge and staying with the breath for 30 seconds, the mind’s automatic command loses its grip. The author, George Cassidy Payne, frames this practice as a practical entry point to deeper mindfulness and emotional regulation.
The Way Back Home: Little Holly and the Three Needs
Holly Herring recounts a childhood episode of getting lost in tall Midwestern grass with her dog Jessica, using the experience to illustrate three fundamental human needs: a place to belong, a purpose to pursue, and a connection that calls your...
Learning to Hear the Need Beneath the Words
The essay explores Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a practical empathy tool that transforms high‑stakes conversations, from suicide‑prevention hotlines to domestic‑violence shelter disputes. By reflecting feelings and unmet needs instead of offering advice, the author shows how a simple “It sounds...
Why I Became Buddhist
On March 6, mindfulness teacher Gerry Hōshō Rickard formally took Zen precepts (Jukai) in an online ceremony led by Roshi Joan Halifax at the Upaya Zen Centre. The vow marks a shift from intellectual study of Zen to living the teachings...
First Love: Raised Christian, Practicing Buddhist and Closing the Gap
The article examines how people raised Christian who adopt Zen Buddhism bridge two spiritual traditions. It highlights post‑World War II Catholic priests in Japan who studied with Zen masters such as Hugo Enomiya‑Lassalle and Yamada Kōun, creating a lasting Zen‑Christian exchange. The...
Struggle and Ill Will: The Peace That Doesn’t Strive
George Cassidy Payne argues that struggle rooted in ill will—an aggressive desire for specific outcomes—creates suffering, while true peace arises from non‑striving and acting without attachment. Drawing on Buddha, Jesus, the Bhagavad Gita, and Lao zi, he shows that the ego’s endless...
Distortion Mantra: Finding Your Calling and Genre
Rob Argent reflects on how personal music preferences—Blur, Oasis, Radiohead—became proxies for identity and group affiliation. He observes that people often cling to external symbols rather than shedding them, leading to polarized debates that echo childhood arguments. Argent champions the...