This has become a favorite of mine and is always a big hit for a winter lunch at my all day meditation groups. It comes via my good friend Ann Ogden who passed it along to me about four years ago. We cooked together many times at a Zen monastery in the Catskill mountains and now she teaches [...]
When the weather won't let up, stay warm by baking a delicious pumpkin bread! This delicious recipe comes at the perfect time for you to surprise your loved ones this Valentine's Day! Heat oven to 350º. Lightly oil (or butter) two large loaf pans or three small ones. 1 cup honey 1 cup maple syrup [...]
“If it has to be winter, it might as well snow.” This is something I say every year and I love it when the weather complies. We’ve had plenty of the white stuff and the forecasters say there is more on the way. And if the groundhog is right, we’ve got six more weeks before [...]
As the year winds down, I’d like to share with you a few reflections and gratitude for my experiences—personal and shared—in 2013. I’ve hosted some excellent silent sits, led meditation classes at the JCC, finished a rewrite of my first mystery novel, One Hand Killing, which will be available in paperback for the first time [...]
"Americans who feel they are successful at work are twice as likely to say they are very happy overall as people who don’t feel that way. And these differences persist after controlling for income and other demographics. You can measure your earned success in any currency you choose. You can count it in dollars, sure [...]
"... a new study conducted by researchers working in Wisconsin, Spain, and France shows that mindfulness can even affect your genes. Specifically, the study shows that mindfulness can limit the "expression" of genes associated with inflammation. "The changes were observed in genes that are the current targets of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs," study co-author Dr. Perla Kaliman, a researcher [...]
This soup by Seppo was created too late to make our 3 Bowls cookbook, but it’s become a favorite of mine especially for large gatherings like Sunday’s All Day Sit. It’s a comforting soup for the fall with its array of colors and creamy texture. I usually mix in a bag of frozen green peas [...]
"A 2005 breakthrough study published in Neuroreport found meditation increased the thickness of the brain's prefrontal cortex. Normally, as the brain ages the cortex thins and the brain shrinks. The prefrontal cortex is associated with attention, higher thought and planning. Researchers at Harvard Medical School in Boston took MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scans of 20 experienced meditators [...]
Even science can agree with our consensus; the benefits of meditation are undeniable. "Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have documented changes in the brains of novice practitioners who took an introductory eight-week class and meditated as little as 15 minutes a day. Sroka said the techniques can become second nature. In times of stress, [...]
This past weekend I attended the Garrison Retreat with New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. It was a rich and heart-opening experience that I will write more about soon! Until then, enjoy some of the scenery I was lucky enough to see and photograph!
