Musings on
the Middle Path
Enjoy Eowyn’s Writings about Practice
Being Young, Growing Wise
Rather than dividing life into “doing” and then “being,” we can weave the two together. Starting contemplative practice early doesn’t mean avoiding the world—it means showing up more fully for it. With more awareness, more patience, and more capacity to meet the ups and downs without being tossed about.
Renunciation and the Radical Art of Doing Nothing
In the northern hemisphere, this is traditionally a time for rest. The fields grow tall with ripening crops, schools are quiet, and many people take time away from work. The heart of summer invites us to pause, to breathe, and to simply be. Yet for many of us, even our vacations have become tasks to manage. The drive to get it done right — so central to contemporary work culture — often follows us into our time off.
Mindfulness of Motivations
Mindfulness of motivation involves a deep awareness of the intentions that drive our behaviors. In our journey toward personal growth and well-being, understanding the roots of our actions is paramount.
Turning to Her-story for Inspiration and Strength
While names like Mother Theresa and Marie Curie may be familiar, throughout history, women have contributed deep spiritual practice, scientific research, poetry, art, and social work to the world. This post highlights a few lesser-known women to celebrate International Women’s History Month, with the wish that learning a bit more about women in history may inspire us to bring our own strengths forward today.
The Ripple Effect of Generosity
Generosity is a universal practice with deep roots across spiritual and secular traditions. In both the Buddha’s teachings and modern Mindfulness-Based Approaches (MBSR, MBCT, etc.), generosity is recognized as a transformative practice that benefits not only the recipient but also the giver, the community, and society as a whole
Handling Hate
Working with the Comparing Mind in Meditation and Relationships Hate and its close cousins—anger, envy, irritation, resentment, bitterness, and contempt, to name a few—often arise when we compare ourselves to others or feel a sense of inadequacy. These emotions can...
Tools to Develop Deep, Wide Communication Skills
In a world filled with rapid-fire exchanges and sudden ups and downs, deep communication can feel elusive, yet it is essential for building meaningful relationships, navigating conflicts, and fostering understanding across differences. It has perhaps never been more...
Why Retreats Matter
Why Retreats Matter: Simplicity, Space & Time for Practice When I first attended a weekend retreat back in 1998, it was an unusual thing to do. Perhaps due to the ever faster pace of the world since then, interest in retreats has grown a lot. They are now more...
Healing from Loneliness
Healing from Loneliness through Mindfulness and Compassion Loneliness, a widespread yet deeply personal experience, can weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. It often feels like an insurmountable barrier between us and the vibrant world around us. With mindfulness...
Four Ways to Practice Non-Violence
Insights from Buddhism, Science & Yoga As context for the below ways of practicing non-violence, it may help to understand that many wisdom traditions see non-violence, or ahiṃsā in Sanskrit, as a cornerstone of both ethical living and personal happiness. Rooted...