_date: april 10 2024_ *(updated: jan 12 2025)* --- Here are resources related to spirituality that have inspired me, and may inspire you. #### Meditation retreats: - [BeppuZen](https://beppuzenretreat.com/) — introduction to Zen Buddhism & Japanese home cooking in a Japanese village next to an onsen city - [Shogan-ji](https://zenretreat.com/) — another Zen retreat in a Japanese village, it's been highly recommended - [Kopan Monastery](https://kopanmonastery.com/courses-retreats/courses/course-calendar) — Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu offering a variety of courses and retreats, including a 10-day “Introduction to Buddhism” - [Krishna Murti Centre](https://krishnamurticentre.org.uk/) — a retreat centre in the UK recommended by friends that follows the teachings of Krishna Murti - [Glendalough Sanctuary ]( https://www.glendaloughsanctuary.ie/) -- sanctuary to pause, reconnect, and soak in the natural peace of Wicklow - [Holy Isle - Center for World Peace and Health](https://www.holyisle.org/) -- hosts a retreat and course programme during the summer season, April to October. - [Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey](https://throssel.org.uk/) -- a monastery and retreat centre devoted to the practice of meditation within the Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition of Buddhism (Sōtō Zen) #### Reads: - [WaitButWhy, The Tail End](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html) -- this isn't about spirituality per se but rather about impermanence) - [Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice, Kosho Uchiyama Roshi](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1010952.Opening_the_Hand_of_Thought) -- a complete and insightful introduction to zen buddhism. it was a useful complement during the BeppuZen meditation retreat. - [Zen in the Art of Archery, Eugene Herrigel](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/103758) -- a short read on the essence of zen practice - [Find Your Zen: A Book for Beginners, Yodo Kono](https://www.amazon.com/Find-your-Zen-Book-Beginners/dp/B0D5HDB6RP) In addition, the below were recommended as introductory books but I have not read them yet: - [Art of Happiness, Dalai Lama](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38210.The_Art_of_Happiness?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=uVRBc9ckKD&rank=1) - [Three Introductory books by Thich Nhat Hanh](https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/key-books) - [How to Meditate, a Practice Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind, Pema Chödrön](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1891102.How_to_Meditate)` #### Quotes: - On Creativity and Growth - "Humanity needs creativity, creativity needs freedom" -- Dalai Lama - "Your mind is a sword that needs to be constantly sharpened" -- ? - On Impermanence and Change - "When we breathe out we die, when we breathe in, we are born." -- ? - "You can't cover the whole world with leather in order to avoid scratching yourself, but you only need to cover your feet" -- ? - "The idea is to get out of the river, and when you're out of the river you can look at it flowing, and also when you're out of the river you don't get wet" -- Reverend Kalden - On Wisdom and Mindfulness - "pay attention, Listen! to be in the eternal now" -- Zen & Japanese Buddhism, Suzuki Tourism Library 28 - "a teacher's utter ordinariness is what makes them so powerful, they become a mirror to the student" -- Zen Beginner's Mind - "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" -- ? - "if you are ready to accept things as they are, you will receive them as old friends, even though you appreciate them with a new feeling" -- ? - "may you have the wisdom to differentiate between red flags and hurdles" -- Ven Thubten Pema - "Nature is revered, admired, on friendship terms with, it is never conquered" -- Zen & Japanese Buddhism, Suzuki Tourism Library 28 - On Meditation and Practice - "the empty mind sees everything clearly, and is ready for anything that comes with no preconceptions" -- Zen Beginner's Mind - "you've created a path but if you don't use it regularly, the path gets overgrown and is harder to find. but it's always there" -- Reverend Kalden, on practicing meditation - "there are 3 kinds of wisdom learning (listening), contemplation (assessing) and meditation (planning)" -- Ven Thubten Pema - "there are 3 kinds of laziness related to impermanence: discouragement, engaging in meaningless activity and procrastination" -- Ven Thubten Pema - "Zen is about fully engaging with the world, not withdrawing from it." -- ? - On Compassion and Interconnection - "we must conjoin our intelligence to a warm open heart. we must bring our rationality a sense of compassion, of caring for one another, of sharing." -- Essence of the Heart Sutra, Dalai Lama - "when positive emotions guide intelligence, it becomes constructive" -- Essence of the Heart Sutra, Dalai Lama - "like water being poured into water" -- ?, on emptiness - "Only when you realize no separation can you live your life with the widest possible angle" -- ? - "I am you and you are me" -- Yodo Kono - "Cleanliness outside <=> cleanliness inside" -- Yodo Kono #### Frameworks: - Downshift's Annual Review, https://downshift.kit.com/598dc14d7a -- a useful framework to introspect on the year that just unfolded, and to uncover, reconnect and help you live by your values. I'll keep this page updated with more things as they come.