Fabrications
At the end of August I was able to visit my friend in California, and together we went to Metta Forest Monastery outside of San Diego. This is a Theravada Buddhist monastery, and the abbot monk who founded it is the teacher whose books, sermons, and scripture translations have served as the foundation of my Buddhist practice this last year. I was able to meet this monk, Thanissarro Bikhhu, and ask questions about his decision to ordain decades ago. I had been imagining meeting him and asking him these questions for a long time; as this was my first visit to a monastery, it felt like the culmination of a year of exploration and contemplation.
Here Are Questions for Your Answers
For my whole life, I’ve always been the person asking the difficult questions, such as the why and how questions, when most people generally gravitate towards the what questions. I’ve spent so much time searching and seeking for the ultimate answers to life: Does God exist? Is there an afterlife? Does the soul exist? Are we free? And the biggest one of all: Why is there something rather than nothing.
Whatever Is Meant For You Will Find You
This past spring quarter has been one of turbulence and contained some of the highest-highs followed by the lowest-lows in my life. At one point, I even reached rock bottom––the worst and most painful I’ve ever felt in my life. Looking back, at the end of winter quarter, I had a somewhat strange vision about my future and how there was a dissonance between the person I was then, and the person who I had envisioned myself to become. When the spring quarter began I aggressively searched for ways to make those plans, dreams, and visions a reality.
Reflecting on One Year of Consistent Meditation
A year and a half ago, the meditation mustard seed was planted in my brain by none other than...Chelsea Handler. I know, not the meditation master you were expecting right, but it's true. During the summer between my junior and senior years of high school I took Handler’s book, Life Will be the Death of Me, on vacation and devoured it. I related so much to Handler and the way she spoke about meditation really sold the practice, so when I got home, I downloaded Headspace, a guided meditation app and timer, and began my journey. I stuck to it for a bit and even made it through the month-long beginner's course, but soon after life got in the way. I was so busy juggling school, college applications, work, and family life that one day I turned the Headspace app off and never turned it back on...until quarantine!
Against the Odds: A Story On Boldness
I landed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on the 3rd of January, 2020. I was now on the other side of the world — back in Chicago after a six week break back home in Thailand. I found myself back in the dorms the next day surrounded by the friends I had made the earlier quarter.
Things seemed normal…
Impermanence
I have always thought of the spring season as a time to reflect on all of the changes in my life. Some of the changes are good, and some aren’t as good, but at the end of the day, the concept that something in my life has changed is good. In other words, even the seemingly bad changes in our lives (break-ups, bad test grades, roommate drama, etc.) are good changes in the big scheme of things.
Giving Up and Taking Up: Encountering New Perspectives on Lent
Though I do not identify with any particular religion, I am intrigued by the way religious traditions and cycles frame one’s intentions and expectations throughout the year. The themes, philosophy, and narratives that weave with the movement of the year help people maintain connection with their self, community, purpose, and sense of divinity. Recently, a Christian friend and I were discussing the ways that they interpret the season of Lent and Easter in their lives.
Meet Our Spiritual Interfaith Scholar — Olivia Adams
Hi! I’m Olivia, the agnostic/spiritual Interfaith Scholar. I am also a singer/songwriter, and my sense of spirituality is perpetually dancing and weaving through my music. To explain my spirituality as best I can, I would say I believe in a metaphysical/spiritual interconnectedness that calls us all to be caregivers to each other and to our natural world. In order to do this, I believe we have a responsibility to use our human gifts and tools to maintain/preserve/promote the systems of love and life that make this world so special and miraculous. I use music and art to process my reality and explore the moments I see myself and my world struggle with this challenging responsibility.
An Old Friend
Quarantine has certainly taken a toll on all of us. One of the beautiful (and perhaps ugliest) things about quarantine is how its removal of the distractions in our lives has left us time for reflection. Beautiful because of the opportunity to reflect. Ugly because of how we might stumble into that reflection. Over the summer, I had an overwhelming experience. I was sitting in my apartment, talking to my older sister, when I began feeling light headed.
Interdependence
As a Buddhist, I’ve always been taught that life is fleeting. We never know when our time on earth will come to an end, so we must make the most of each day. This philosophy is called impermanence –– knowing that nothing in life will last, so we mustn’t grow attached to unnecessary possessions, thoughts, or actions.
Lessons Learned in Solitude During This Socially-Distant Time
In the last eight months, I’ve had to come to terms with the reality I find myself in. Not only is a global pandemic causing face-to-face interaction to be sparse, but it happened at the worst possible time for me personally — on the wrong end of a myriad of terminated relationships — both romantic and friendship in nature. Because of that, I’ve had to spend the better part of the last eight months mostly alone.
Practicing Mindfulness, Setting Intentions
Coming into this new year, I know that a lot of us are reflecting on not only the events of 2020, but also the incidents that have already occurred over the start of the new year. Current events have pushed me to share one of the most important aspects of my spiritual journey. Practicing mindfulness in my daily life is a small act that brings me peace and solitude; especially when there is a lot going on that is out of my control. It’s because of these qualities that I felt as though sharing this concept would be beneficial.
To Be a Non-Binary Jew
“Today I will face the day with kindness, I will face the day with love, and I will face the day fearlessly.” Every morning I sent an intention for my day as I cover my head with my scarf. I look in the mirror and see my covered head, a constant reminder of my intention.