The last time I wrote was March 15, 2026. It was also the last time I went to the meditation center. At the time, I didn’t think much about the coincidence. I thought I was only stepping away for a little while. A pause. A redirection of attention. But looking back now, I can see that something in me had already started moving before my mind could explain it. In one of my February blogs, I mentioned joining a gym. Today is the 106th straight day since I joined the gym. Somewh

Over the last two weeks things have been busy as we approach spring break. During the final pose, a yoga teacher asked a question to reflect on. Like most of the questions she asks, it was simple on the surface but difficult to answer: What would you change if you didn’t have to carry everything alone? The question was framed in the context of community and supporting one another. At first, I thought about it practically. If I didn’t have to carry things alone, I would proba

On Sunday, I went to the LP Chalee Meditation Center for meditation and a dharma talk. Phra Bryan spoke about the Seven Factors of Awakening “as antidotes to the Five Hindrances.” I’ve reflected on these two themes before. The seventh factor is equanimity. I may have misheard him and I didn’t ask for clarification. My mind was too busy in the words. I think I caught him saying equanimity is a state of ease and calm. “The mind is unmoved.” “The mind is detached.” I’m not sure

Today was another typical Sunday for me: coffee at Starbucks, workout, meditation at LP Chalee Meditation center, a dharma talk, reflection, and writing. The only difference was that I did my workout after the dharma talk. I was too lazy to get out of bed this morning. My meditation was everywhere except centered. My mind drifted from random thoughts back to the rising and falling of my breath, then away again. Even as it was happening, I questioned myself: Why can’t I focus

Last Sunday, after meditation, I attended a Dharma talk. Ajarn Bryan spoke about mindfulness, awareness, right effort, and hindrances. One point stayed with me: without awareness, I may recognize a hindrance and still remain trapped in it. Awareness is not just noticing. It’s seeing clearly enough not to be carried away. During meditation, I focused on the breath, rising & falling, to stop my mind from wandering. The moment I try to observe it, I begin to control it. The br

As we welcome the Fire Horse of 2026, my year did not begin with momentum or clarity. It began with sickness. The first two weeks of January were spent slowed down, feverish, and unsteady. My body insisted that I stop before I could move forward. Instead of leaping into a new year, I found myself simply trying to get my feet back on the ground. Perhaps that, too, is part of welcoming a Fire Horse: learning how to stand before learning how to gallop. When I finally felt we

At the Dharma talk today at LP Chalee Hermitage, Ajarn Bryan gave one of those teachings that opens the mind but keeps your feet on the ground. He spoke about Theravada Buddhism in a way that felt alive. Not a list. Not as a set of rules to memorize. It’s more like a map. One path flowing into the next. It felt less like learning doctrine and more like remembering what it means to be human. He reminded us of the point of Dharma. Liberation from suffering. Not escape but clari

This past Sunday I went to the meditation and dharma talk at LP Chalee Hermitage. It had been several weeks since my last visit. Ajarn Bryan talked about the Five Remembrances that the Buddha taught. We are subject to grow old. Yet I still worry about wrinkles and gray hair. We are subject to sickness. And I already deal with health issues. We are subject to death. I still do not know whether I fear it or not. We are subject to part from everything we love. Yet I continue to

I missed (again) the Sunday meditation and the dharma talk at LP Chalee Hermitage because other commitments pulled me away. Maybe that is why I picked up The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo again. It has been sitting on my shelf, waiting. The book is set up as a daily companion and reflection: a quote, a small story, and then a simple practice to carry into the day. Nothing loud or complicated. Perhaps deep. Just honest invitations to look inward. The entries from November 10t

This weekend was a blend of happiness and sadness. My child’s visit brightened my world and rekindled a quiet spark within me. In Thailand, the holiday of Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) fell on November 5 this year. It is an annual full moon festival celebrated across the country. Loy (ลอย) means “to float,” and krathong (กระทง) refers to a small decorated basket, usually made from banana leaves (ใบตอง), flowers, or other natural materials. I remember, as a child growing up in Tha

There was no dharma talk last Sunday, and there will be none again this upcoming Sunday at the LP Chalee Hermitage. I found myself missing this routine, this quiet space. Then, yesterday, someone asked me, “What’s so scary about being alone?” I didn’t have an answer then, and I’m not sure I do now. But I was challenged to write about it, so here I am, trying my best. This morning, driving to work while listening to K-pop music, I saw the wind lift a swirl of dry leaves ac

The past three Sundays were all Kathina events: first at IIMC in Redmond, then at Wat Buddha in Turner, and today at LP Chalee Hermitage in Albany. Kathina is an annual Buddhist festival held at the end of the three-month rain retreat. Growing up in a Theravada country, I must shamefully admit that I had never actually attended a Kathina, not until these past three weeks, in a country ten thousand miles away from my birthplace. Back then, when family or friends asked whethe

The past two weeks have been a blur. Work, health, obligations, emotions, and everything else have been moving too fast. I haven't...

There’s something delightful about Dharma talks that surprise you. Today’s teaching on the Gradual Training was like that for me,...

This weekend I joined Thai Bite 2025 at Wat Buddha Oregon, a joyful fundraising event filled with food, music, and community. The day...

Today was not a regular Sunday at LP Chalee Hermitage. Instead of our usual meditation and Dharma talk, the temple was alive with one of...

Hello and welcome! I'm starting this blog to share my ongoing journey with mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhist teachings, inspired by...