Why Zen Teaches in Stories
A professor visits a Zen master, who pours tea until the cup overflows. That image has taught more people about the closed mind than any lecture on…
What Is Beginner's Mind? The Zen Idea of Shoshin
Shoshin, beginner's mind, is the Zen habit of meeting a moment as if you had never met one like it, before habit files it away. It sounds simple and…
How to Calm a Racing Mind: Zen Practices for Everyday Stress
A racing mind rarely responds to being told to calm down. Zen takes a different route: give your attention something concrete and let the churn…
What Is Zen, Really? A Plain-English Guide
Zen is a school of Buddhism built around direct experience rather than doctrine. It grew from the meeting of Indian Buddhism and Chinese Taoism, and…
Zen Meditation for Beginners: How to Start Zazen
Zen meditation, called zazen, is almost embarrassingly simple: sit still, follow your breath, and come back when your mind wanders. The simplicity is…
How to Stop Overthinking: A Zen Approach to Quieting the Mind
Overthinking is the same handful of thoughts on a loop, dressed up as problem-solving. Zen has spent centuries on this exact habit. Here is what it…
What Is Wu Wei? The Taoist Art of Effortless Action
Wu Wei is one of the most quoted and most misunderstood ideas in Taoism. It is usually translated as non-action or doing nothing, which makes it…