Author: Michael Stevens

Some folks still believe the world is flat. I am convinced the construction industry is in this camp. Right now I am passing by a site platted for new homes. The area is mostly...

I am getting ready for a Google Meet connection with Redmond High School to offer a presentation on Buddhism for a World Religion class. I get a dialog box that my browser is incompatible....

In Buddhism, we are taught to view life as a kind of dream. The practice of dream yoga can help us do this through the process of lucidly recognizing dreams during sleep. We ‘wake...

I am looking out my living room window and notice feathers dropping from above. They float down from a juniper tree located near our bird feeder. When I walk outside and look up into...

I watched a program on public broadcasting exploring the ideas of philosophy relating to food. Many ancient traditions look at food as medicine and the aesthetics of taste. How we discover our relationship with...

Losar, the Tibetan Lunar New Year, began on February 12. The celebration continues for fifteen days during which all activities are multiplied by 100,000 times. Traditional Tibetan New Year preparations include deep cleaning of...

Two small lakes occupy space in the desert on the outskirts of Bend. They are a haven for waterfowl and associated wildlife. Ironically, they would not exist if it were not for our habit...

We are standing on the slope of a grassy hill overlooking the ashram. Our yoga training now involves balance postures. The instructor points out, “In order to find our balance, we must first overcome...

I wonder what they think about us two legged mammals wandering their territory. Their eyes follow us, aware but unfazed by our presence. We give the horses a wide berth so as not to...

Winter in the desert emphasizes the stark reality of arid climes—no water. Today, the grey/brown tinges of desiccated plant life predominates. Since we are hiking in the Dry River bed east of Bend, there...