One of the most common causes of suffering is resistance to what is present in this moment. Part of us recognizes what is actually happening, while another part says, “This should not be happening.” In that moment, we become divided within ourselves. Life moves in one direction, and the mind pushes against it. This inner conflict is what creates suffering. We often believe the pain comes from the situation itself. In many cases, the greater pain comes from the attempt to cont

A reflection on silence, stillness, and what becomes possible when we stop talking. Most of us have never chosen silence. We have experienced it accidentally — a power outage, a long drive alone, an early morning before the house wakes up. But to choose it deliberately, to step into five days of collective quiet with a group of strangers, is something different entirely. It is also, for many people, one of the most profound things they have ever done. At Rolling Meadows Retre

When I reflect on many of the opinions I have had in my life I am humbled by how often they were either very limited or outright wrong. Our opinions often feel like part of who we are. We defend them, cling to them, and sometimes build our identity around them. But when we hold them too tightly, they can close us off from learning, from listening, and from one another. Holding an opinion lightly doesn’t mean we stop caring or thinking deeply. It means we stay open. We recogni