Choosing our Emotions Another one of my favorite sayings of Sifu Brown’s is Happiness is a choice. When some people hear this, they think to themselves, wait a minute—happiness is an emotion. So? We choose our emotions. In fact, we choose every

Choice A fundamental paradox in our experience of life is that of choice. First of all, does choice even exist? Though we all experience the ability to choose, true Free Will may be a myth. With the concept of causality, science

The Way of the Samurai: Die Daily The Way of the Samurai is found in death….If by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in

Three Days More (from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones) Suiwo, the disciple of Hakuin, was a good teacher. During one summer seclusion period, a pupil came to him from a southern island of Japan. Suiwo gave him the problem: “Hear the sound

Kung Fu and the Shaolin Monks Before Da Mo arrived, the monks at Shaolin Temple spent their days hunched over desks, translating texts and sutras. As a result, they were in dismal physical shape. Da Mo found the monks falling asleep

Break it down Rather than focusing on the end result (which can be overwhelming, especially if your goal is substantial), focus on the first step. If your goal is to write a book, begin with the outline, or the first chapter,

New Year’s Resolutions This is my favorite time of year. This is the time of year that lives can change. When I started practicing martial arts with Sifu Brown I was 17 years old. I had never tried meditating before, nor had