Personal Growth

Personal growth is the main topic of discussion across my entire catalog of articles. That is to say, whether I am writing about philosophy, psychology, meditation, or breathwork – all are focused, ultimately, on personal growth. These articles below are, therefore, a collection of my writing that does not fit nicely into the other four.

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Philosophy — Psychology — Meditation — Breathwork — Personal Growth

The Meaning & Purpose Behind Buddhist Prayer & Chanting

The meaning and purpose of Buddhist chanting is to help facilitate the process of what Buddhists would call enlightenment. This is an older article that

How to Get a Good Night Sleep

For the longest time, I’ve had difficulty getting a good night’s sleep. I would often wake feeling more tired than when I went to bed.

Is It Bad to Fall Asleep While Meditating?

Is it bad to fall asleep while meditating? While I wouldn’t go so far as to use the word, bad! It is something you should

Can I Meditate in Bed?

A common question I hear every now and then is: Can I meditate in bed? The short answer is, yes! You can meditate in bed.

How Long Should I Meditate for Each Day?

How long should I meditate each day? This is a commonly asked question, and the answer may surprise you. But before I get to the

How Do I Start Morning Meditation?

Daily meditation in the morning starts with a decision to start but, understand you are likely to need more than sheer will-power to sustain this

Is It Good to Meditate In The Morning?

Yes, it is good to meditate in the morning! And it is important to understand why. Why it is good to meditate in the morning?

How to Overcome the Obstacles to Great Meditation

Science, medicine, and the wisdom traditions are all in agreement—meditation is good for the body, the mind, and the spirit. But, for many people, their

Addiction to Self and the Mess it Creates

Note: This was originally written for my Meditate or Die Insiders newsletter. You can sign up for it here. Hey Insiders, Welcome to this week’s Meditate or

How to Start a Daily Meditation Practice

Welcome to this article on how to start a daily meditation practice. I’ve done my best to lay out everything you will need to know

The Cartography of Persons: Setting a Course of Self Discovery

This article is still being edited and will appear here shortly. Photo by Sharon McCutcheon What to read next: Maniacs, Mindsets, and Meditation Domain of

How to Bend Like a Piece of Wood

Below is an extract from the vomit draft of my upcoming book…I hope you enjoy it. I was excited to move into the next phase

Domain of the Illusory: Tsongkhapa’s Illusory-Like Persons

This article was written in 2008 for entry into the Ph.D program at the University of Tasmania. I’m publishing it now and here for those

Maniacs, Mindsets, and Meditation

Have you ever wondered how it is that some people are successful in everything they do? Whether they’re an artist, sportsperson, or business person, everything

Meeting the Dalai Lama for the second time

My Amazing Crazy Lunch with the Dalai Lama

Circa. 2009 I’m sitting in my little cubicle at the University of Tasmania working on my Ph.D. dissertation when the head of the philosophy faculty

CINEMA — CARTOGRAPHY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION

As a Writer I strive to find meaning in the moments between the words—there is always more meaning in these moments. This is important because

We Carry with Us

We all carry with us the potential for being wild. Is this a good thing? Well, if we are creators then why not?! Why is it

Darkness is important as it reveals the light

Everyone, at some point, feels a little down. It is simply a part of the human condition. We should stop telling ourselves that it’s somehow bad to

Getting Stuck

I’m sitting in front of my computer trying to find something to write about. I’m feeling blank. Slept badly, I guess. Is this writers’ block?

Silence is a Practice

Silence is something I’ve cherished over the years. It was hard to find at times. Something I longed for when I could not find it –

Finding Time to be Quiet

Going to Update this blog post at some point because I like the title and feel it is important to say something about it. Today

Soul Searching

I heard someone recently use the phrase, “it was a period of ‘soul searching’ in my life.” It struck me then….right then, that my entire

Longing for Silence

A tell-tale sign I’m overworked is a deep deep longing for the silence and solitude of mountains. Taken in 2010 above my apartment in McCleodGanj

A Better Place Starts Here

I’m not sure my art can change the world but I know it can change me. I’ve long struggled with what, and how, I can

Into the Given Part 3 — A choice the premise

Love. What is Love? When we say, I love you? What does this mean? And how could it possibly be a choice? As part of

Into the Given Part 2 — Embracing Failure

As part of the pre-production process for my upcoming film, A Thousand Moments Later, I put together a document for the actors and crew to

What is Needed is an Experience Part 1

As part of the pre-production process for the upcoming film, A Thousand Moments Later, I put together a document for the actors and crew to

Dream Learn Plan—A Life

I dream. I learn. I plan. Or should that be I plan, learn and dream? We started out to get a computer in the hands

Anthony Minghella on Morality in Cinema

When I heard Anthony Minghella had passed away I shed a tear. Quite literally! For I knew the world, and in particular the world of

A Year of Light and Shade

Although I continue to tell myself I enjoy sharing I seemed to have gone almost ten months without updating the blog…Shame on me! Despite that

Losing Your Way Finding Perspective

Now let’s face it, even though all of us, all sentient beings, want happiness this is not news, and it is obvious on reflection that

Silent Mind Open Heart – the Art of Being

In the Buddhist tradition it is said that all thing are illusory but, if this is true it can only be so if there is

My Story A Life A Journey

Today we have a lesson in history! Or perhaps I should say some personal history that contains a lesson. As I am naturally loquacious however

Norbulingka Institute

Last Sunday I went to Gyuto monastery to shoot a narrative film with two young monks. On my way home I stopped by Norbulingka Institute.

Saving Zanskar: A Short Documentary

Saving Zanskar: A Short Documentary is the story of a Tibetan Buddhist monks vision to save his dying culture by providing the children of his

Does Buddhism Need Science In Order to Be Legit?

1. Introduction Does Buddhism need science? That is to say, does Buddhism need the validation of science? Perhaps not, however, in order to lift the

Is Wisdom Really Necessary In Order To Generate Compassion?

It seems that my assertion from the article Philosophy as Practice raised some eyebrows among Buddhists. Here is the section of in question: …without the

Thank You Geshe Thubten Loden

This is a copy of a letter I wrote to my teacher – Geshe Thubten Loden – a few days before leaving for Tasmania. I