The Transformative Power of Travel

Moonlight at Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand No journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within. —Lillian Smith As I write this, I’m staying at the Suan Doi Guest House in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and being serenaded by a chorus of frogs and geckos. For the next month, I’m here in northern Thailand on a journey that includes Buddhist temples, elephant sanctuaries, and some of the most fabulous food... Read More

26 Quotes for Living a Liberated Life

Photo by umjanedoan (Creative Commons) http://www.flickr.com/photos/umjanedoan Sometimes the right words can make all the difference. For the last few years, I’ve been collecting quotes that speak to my heart and have something to teach me about the many dimensions of freedom. May they inspire you as well. On the Freedom That Comes From Self-awareness Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds. – Bob Marley The way out of a trap is to... Read More

6 Steps to Manifestation That Serves a Greater Good (and Why the Law of Attraction is Bunk)

Photo by McKay Savage (Creative Commons) http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/ Manifestation is the process of bringing into reality that which we envision. It’s a word that often pops up in New Age-y kinds of contexts, and for that reason I was suspicious of it for a long time. But I’m starting to realize that it’s a key component in living a liberated life. And it doesn’t have to be selfish. In recent years, I’ve surprised myself at my ability... Read More

The Power of Words to Harm and to Heal: In the Wake of Tragedy in Arizona

Hundreds gather for a vigil at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, Jan 8, 2011. (AP / Ross D. Franklin) Since yesterday’s terrible and tragic shootings in Arizona, I have found myself searching for some way to understand what happened and to ascertain what, if any, action might be skillful at this time. Words are very powerful. It is words (and the thoughts and feelings behind them) that have created an environment of fear and hatred which permeates many levels of the United... Read More

How to Be Bigger Than Your Suffering: Lessons from a Buddhist Monk

This is a story about an amazing man from Cambodia who has a lot to teach us about suffering, and liberation from suffering. Maha Ghosananda (1929 – 2007) has been called the “Gandhi of Cambodia” and the “Buddha of the Battlefields.” He was born into a poor peasant family in the southern part of Cambodia. Even then, in 1929, there was great suffering in Cambodia. In the wake of the Depression and World War II, Khmer nationalism began to stir, bringing with it social... Read More