‘‘‘Good Gotama [Buddha], what is the resort of mindfulness?’’ 'The resort of mindfulness, Brahman, is liberation.’’’ The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya

When I was a young novice, my teacher, Master Sheng Yen, would tell me that it’s quite normal when things don’t turn out the way one expects, and it’s uncommon for things to go smoothly. “Face everything with an ordinary mind,” he advised.  An ordinary mind, which is...

I am writing this post in the first week of September 2024. This year has been a monumental one for me spiritually. I've mentioned this in some of my previous posts also, but I went through the hardest months of my life. The kind of months where I can count the total...

My early memories of my mother are of her acting as perpetual hostess: When unexpected guests came to our home, trays of green tea and delectable homemade treats magically appeared. Growing up as a Sansei, third generation Japanese American, I witnessed my mother care...

The Bear is a popular and acclaimed television series that’s currently in the running for most of the major categories at the upcoming 2024 Primetime Emmy awards. It’s the story of an ambitious chef who takes over his family’s sandwich shop. It is also a story about...

Many people question their purpose in life.  Perhaps they work tirelessly each day to secure essentials: food, clothing, shelter. Balancing family and career obligations, they follow paths laid by others, leading to an existence that can seem monotonous and...