I started Daily Zen in 2008 to share quotes pertaining to my meditation practice and self-directed studies of Eastern philosophy. Twitter had just started and it seemed like a clever outlet for the aphoristic wisdom I found in various spiritual texts. I didn't expect the project to have an audience of nearly 300,000 after just a few years! I regularly get emails from people who say that my writings have encouraged them through difficult times or changed their perspective on something. This is a great gift. I do not claim to be a Zen master or 'enlightened' by any means. I believe enlightenment is found in each moment we spend in meditation. The community that's developed around Daily Zen has helped me grow and recognize the universality of this mindset. I consider myself the student here. We all want guidance. When we communicate and listen closely, we find it. Since 2008, I have written thousands of pages, read countless spiritual texts, and maintained my daily meditation practice. The goal of these writings is simply to share my reflections with others. I hope you find something useful in these short essays and that they help you commit further to your meditation practice. If you don't meditate yet, I hope they encourage you to start. Remember-- the good life is as simple as paying attention.
