Once upon a time, when the world was still enchanted, wild beasts were central to human development. The terror and awe that our ancestors experienced in the wilderness gave rise to language, religion, invention, and story­telling. In that indigenous, animistic world...

When I found out my father was suing me in the Australian Supreme Court, I blacked out and my hair turned grey overnight.  In the following adrenaline-filled days, I armored myself with evidence for the case. My late aunt Theresa, one of my father’s thirty-two...

In the middle of the Pacific, 2,500 miles away from the nearest continent, lies a chain of islands called Hawaii. The weather is mild and sunny with trade winds that often keep the humidity in check. Fragrant flowers and salty sea air embrace you. Colors are vivid;...

In Meditation for Modern Madness (Wisdom Publications), the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, offers teachings that he feels have all too often been confined to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. He brings the wisdom of Dzogchen into contemporary lay life by...

I meditated for lottery numbers. I sat the way I had been instructed to at temple—legs crossed, back straight. If I couldn’t keep my back straight then I flattened myself against a wall, aligning the top of my head down the length of my spine. I inhaled three seconds,...