In my continuing studies of Buddhism, a recurring theme capturing my attention is the idea of not having fixed opinions or views. I have seen this idea referred to as “beginner’s mind,” “don’t know mind,” and “not sure mind” by various esteemed teachers. While my reaction to these teachings is often one of resonance, especially […]
Ten Books I Read and Loved in 2015
Reading is one of my absolute favorite activities, and I was fortunate to read a number of excellent books this year. Here I share the ten that stood out the most. Although a couple of these books were published in 2015, most of them are older books that I read in 2015. Books on Veganism The […]
Plants, Not Pills
As a member of the pharmacy profession, I can become very discouraged by the standard medical approach of using medications to treat the symptoms of diseases that are caused largely by lifestyle choices. That is why I am so excited and encouraged by recent reports of doctors who are treating patients by “dispensing” produce. Standard […]
Where Have All the Vegan Yogis Gone?
Over the past few years, I have attended several yoga teacher trainings and retreats. I have been surprised and disheartened to often find myself being the only vegan present. Since many of the writers who inspired my veganism, such as Steve Ross and Sharon Gannon, are yogis who ascribe to the philosophy of ahimsa (non-harming)—a […]
Developing Greater Self-Compassion
If I had to choose one central message I try to convey through my work, it would be the importance of developing self-compassion. As I understand it, self-compassion means being kind and loving toward yourself when you are faced with difficulties, pain, or feelings of inadequacy. Self-Compassion and Veganism Vegans, in my opinion, may be in […]