Meditation for Modern Life

Years ago, I was my wife's date to her high school reunion. Because we hadn't grown up together, everyone there was a stranger to me. On the other hand, my wife was eager to catch up with old friends. The room was a bustling scene: a band was playing music and groups of people were talking , laughing, and dancing. As I sat in the banquet hall, I decided to challenge myself. Read More

When I first learned to meditate, I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't characterize my practice as earnest. It wasn't until I understood how it could dramatically improve my personal and spiritual growth that I committed myself wholeheartedly to the practice. From that point, I turned passionate about it. It has since become the foundation on which I build my life. Read More

One of the most pleasant effects of meditation is that as you sit, your otherwise active mind calms down. But so often, the moment that your practice is over the "monkey mind" takes charge. In other words, your attention is consumed by thoughts that swirl in your head. Wouldn't it be life-alteringly wonderful if you were able to carry the peace of mind of the meditative state into daily life? Read More

I have been professionally helping people to improve their lives and to achieve happiness for over 25 years now. Among the thousands of people that I have come into contact with over the years, there is a very common theme that I see that keeps them from being happy, which is simply self-judgment and the judgment of others. When we mess up, we have an incredible tendency to berate ourselves. Read More

Many of us put a lot of pressure upon ourselves to achieve.  We have an incredible tendency to compare ourselves to other people.  If we don't live up to these imaginary lines of success that we have created in our heads, then we suffer.  I want to offer an alternative to this suffering, a lesson we can all learn, courtesy of my six-year-old daughter. Read More

Although I try to eat a proper diet most of the time, I love chocolate!  I limit how often I treat myself, and I try to restrict myself to a particular "healthier" type of chocolate.  Years ago, when I was much more indulgent, I found the biggest, most delicious chocolate cake while shopping at Costco.  The first bite was so exquisite; I couldn't help taking another and still ano Read More

After 14 years of driving the same vehicle, I finally decided that I needed a new car, ultimately opting for a lease. Read More

What is the key, essential component of happiness? First, let's explore what causes suffering. Some time ago, there was a woman with whom I worked who really struggled with life. She felt as though she was too heavy and thus unattractive, and she was very self-critical of this fact. Read More

I started my meditative practice during my late teens when I was introduced to the work of Harvard professor, Herbert Benson. His book, The Relaxation Response, was a basic guide, and it was one that sparked an interest that would continue for the next three decades. Read More

When you read the word "meditation," what images pop up in your mind? For many of us, we think of someone sitting in the lotus position (legs crossed), eyes closed, and hands in a mudra (symbolic hand gesture). But there's another form that is equally as relaxing. It's walking meditation, and you can do it practically anytime and anywhere. Read More

When I was vacationing in Yellowstone, a bear attacked a married couple, killing the husband and seriously injuring the wife.  This was the first time something of this nature had happened in over 25 years.  Additionally, while I was there, I noticed that there were numerous signs posted near the many geysers and hot springs stating that if you strayed from the path, you risked fallin Read More

Does having more free time make a person happier? How about possessing more material goods? Read More

Many years ago, when I was working toward my first Master's Degree at Princeton, I had an experience that positioned me on a new path and provided me with a new direction regarding how to live my life. I had accomplished many things at Princeton: I was graduating with honors, I had won many awards for my research work, and I had been accepted into one of the top Ph.D. Read More

In meditation circles you'll often hear the term "monkey mind." The "monkey" refers to how our primate relatives are able to swing from one branch to another with awe-inspiring skill. Similarly, our minds bounce from one idea to another, but rather than inspire awe, the activity often fills us with anxiety. Read More