Someone once asked the buddha, “Sir, what do you and your monks practice?” He replied, “We sit, we walk, and we eat.” The questioner continued, “But sir, everyone sits, walks, and eats.” Then the buddha said, “When we sit, we know we are sitting. When we walk, we know we…

A few months before I left for America, my dad decided to replace me. When he came across a post on an online forum looking for someone to adopt a 2-year-old white pekingese, I agreed to check it out with him. We drove to a sleepy part of town. We…

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Pablo Picasso When we are children, play is an instinct. Our mother plays peekaboo with us before we can utter a word. Anything stackable — books, coasters, toilet paper rolls — is a…

Someday a couple of years ago, I went on to LinkedIn to do some research. A few college schoolmates’ profiles popped up. It looked like some of them became management at exciting companies, started their own ventures, or otherwise seemed to be something exciting. “Good for them.” I said silently. …

In my mid-twenties, I avoided commitments. I’d RSVP “pending” for most events to avoid disappointing myself and others. I didn’t talk to my family much. My work was related to corporate mergers and acquisitions, and my job schedule was highly unpredictable. Sometimes I’d leave the office at 3pm, other times…

Over the years, I had experimented with meditation a few times, but the practice never quite stuck for more than a few days. Once in a while, an article or a podcast on meditation would catch my attention, but for the most part, meditation seemed like something “nice to do”…