Editor's Note: A number of helpful corona virus resources and all related articles by Tiny Buddha can be found here. When I decided to become a Buddhist chaplain over two years ago, I never thought I would experience our current pandemic crisis. After I lost my son in 2010, I decided to become a Buddhist chaplain. The experience of losing…
“Be there. Be open. Be honest. Be polite. Be ready to listen, understand, accept, support and forgive. That is what it means to love . "~ Lori Deschene They say your heart is pounding when you're in love. But even the idea of opening love and letting it in can lead to false palpitations. Saying yes to love … it's…
"Many paths lead from the foot of the mountain, but on the summit we all look at the single bright moon." ~ Ikkyu I was the boy who didn't like to sleep. In preschool I pretended to sleep at midday while the other children were sleeping. I've always thought life was full of exciting things to explore and learn, and…
Though life is much less busy for many these days, I suspect that many of us are incredibly busy given the uncertainty we face. It's easy to get into worst-case and what-if scenarios and try to create a sense of control in a world where we have very little. I know because I've done this many times. I locked myself…
This letter reminds me of my father, who – without knowing it – helped make me the man I am today. When I was a little boy, my father seemed bigger than life, as most fathers seem to be young sons. I looked at him the way I imagine my son Jeremiah looked at me at that age – like…
“We all have everything in us that we need to reach our full potential.” ~ Abraham Maslow Did you grow up with a critical, distant, or ignorant mother? She may have made sure that your physical needs were met, but she never noticed or understood your emotional needs. If she were something like my mother, she might even have put…
"Sometimes it takes an overwhelming breakdown to make an incredible breakthrough." ~ Unknown I had hit rock bottom. Well, that means different things for different people. Let me explain what my bottom was. I start with my physical health. I was underweight, about twenty-five pounds. My face looked thin and skinny. I was hypertensive even though I was eating healthy.…
“It's not a bad idea to occasionally spend a little time thinking about things you take for granted. Simple everyday objects. "~ Evan Davis Let me go back in time. Not too long, but only six months ago, when the virus outbreak had not yet occurred. I cursed the traffic, complained that the beer in a bar wasn't cold enough,…
“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Believe in what will be. "~ Sonia Ricotti The scent of disinfectants permeates my home again. And as much as I am grateful for this, this astringent, alcoholic smell brings me straight back to the outpatient chemo station in the hospital every time I use it. It's been almost seven years…
Have you ever found it difficult to motivate yourself to do something that was good for you, to finally do it, feel amazing, and wonder why you waited so long? That was meditation for me. Although I knew I could only do it for five minutes a day to feel calmer, less stressed, and present, I found excuses not to…