It's not what you look at that matter. It's what you see. (H.D. Thoreau)
The following text is an adapted version of a talk given to participants of the MTTC (Mindfulness Teacher Training Course) at Waldhaus Meditation Centre, Germany in October 2025. I dedicate it to all who are experiencing heartache right now – whether over a romantic relationship, the loss of a beloved person or the state of …
Continue reading "What’s Love Got to Do With It? Reflections on a Powerful Feeling"
I have spent most of the time since early autumn living, serving and meditating in a Buddhist retreat centre, much of it in silence. I have been here all in all for 3,5 months. As my time at the centre comes to an end, several people have asked me about my experience. Hence I will …
Maybe you're right. Maybe I should get a proper job, settle down. Grow up, think about health insurance. Oh, and the pension, yes. I've just been so busy working out the terms and conditions of my heart insurance. For once I was sensible. Signed a life-long contract. Small print says: requires daily renewal. So I …
Do something radical today. Show up for the crispness of this morning offered so generously to you without a demand in the world. // Delete the word 'ordinary' from your dictionary. // Do you really believe this day is devoid of miracles just because it's porridge again for breakfast? // Amazement is a good swimmer …
Every morning Rebirth of the mind Daily life karma // Feed it bitterness today Get the bill tomorrow // Set out to learn to bake Got obsessed with the Big Bake Off hosted by Buddha master baker // This baking thing didn't come naturally and I only had this battered old oven // interrupted by …
Go on. Make your way to this club everyone is talking about. The bouncer looks scary, but the door policy is weirdly generous. All you have to do is hand over the What Ifs and Maybes. Then, enter. Surrender your 'self' to this stuffy mess. Dance to the beat of being. Let the base vibrate …
Continue reading "Dance to Songs You Haven’t Chosen. A Poem."
8 minutes reading time Relationship to Other Beliefs If we experience a particular teaching or religion as liberating then there is no cause for feeling threatened by other beliefs. We can rejoice in somebody else's faith, even if it is not the same as 'ours', when we see that the teachings they follow lead to …
8 minutes reading time “Do not accept any of my words on faith,“Believing them just because I said them.“Be like an analyst buying gold, who cuts, burns, and critically examines his product for authenticity.“Only accept what passes the test by proving useful and beneficial in your life.” These are the words of the Buddha – …
Reflections by a Mindfulness Teacher and Garden Enthusiast There is only limited space in the garden. It is worthwhile asking the question: What do I want to grow in this space? Knowing your garden well helps to grow a good crop. Where is the favourite hiding place of the snails? Which part of the garden …
Regular formal meditation (sitting, standing, walking or lying down) is a very beneficial and powerful way to practise mindfulness and I would encourage everyone to try it out, even if it's just for 5 minutes a day. However, if you really feel this isn't your cup of tea, there are many other ways to practise. …
Continue reading "Ideas to Practise Mindfulness With Nature"
Poems are precious. They inspire us to pause and can be powerful when we allow them to touch us. A good poem can remind us of something deep which we might already know but have forgotten in the business of our life. This is a list of ten of my favourite poems revealing something deep. …
Continue reading "Poems – Creative Gifts to Inspire Our Mindfulness Practice"
In the six meetings we will look at different 'nourishing' qualities / concepts and explore ways of cultivating them in formal meditation and in daily life. Over the 6 week period we will explore such questions as: What are ways of grounding oneself when feeling overwhelmed? What might be a fresh perspective of looking at …
Continue reading "Soul Food – 6 Week Online Course. Starting Wednesday 21/02/24."
Our eyes are a wonderful resource for mindfulness practice. Every moment of the day we have the possibility to use them for practicing. This morning I took a train from Glasgow Central Station to Edinburgh Haymarket. I wrote down examples of what my eyes could pick up on the journey. If you would like to …
Continue reading "Using Our Eyes Mindfully in Daily Life Situations"
Have you heard much about the positive impacts of mindfulness and meditation but never quite understood how to practice it? Do you like the idea of meditation in theory, but find it hard to sit on a cushion by yourself? Are you curious about meditation but never really found it very enjoyable when trying it? …
Continue reading "6 Week Online Course. Starting 4th of October 2023."
Meditation has an important place. For me, so important that I do it daily. However, one of the most important lessons I have learned in the last years is: there are also times when meditation is not the answer. The times when frustration, anger or fear are too present to sit down. There is nothing …
SOMETIMES MINDFUL 