“Suppose you are offered a cup of tea, very fragrant, very good tea. If your mind is distracted, you cannot really enjoy the tea. You have to be mindful of the tea, you have to be concentrated on it, so the tea can reveal its fragrance and wonder to you.“ These are the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his pioneering teachings on Mindfulness. His words also hold true for life. Life becomes full and beautiful only if we learn to slow down and live mindfully. Otherwise, life can’t reveal its fragrance and beauty to us.

j u s t l i k e m e | “If we learn to relate to others from the perspective of our shared humanity, we could extend our empathetic concern to strangers and even those whom we find difficult to relate to. Buddhist – derived compassion meditations use phrases such as “Just like me, others too wish to attain happiness and overcome suffering” constantly, almost in the fashion of a mantra: ”just like me, just like me…” Plus, as a consequence of relating to others through our common humanity, we are graced with no end of opportunities to get out of our own head, a key both to compassion and to our personal happiness, as we have seen. “ – Thupten Jinpa .

A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain.

One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away.

The Master sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, " I wish I could give him this beautiful moon." .

w a b i s a b i | Love the idea of perfection of being - not so perfect. 〰️ .

✏️Note to self! “Things can be perfectly imperfect! .
.
➰ I guess I must be challenged by perfection somehow that I have started to have “wabi sabi” in my mind these days. May be it is just to justify my imperfectness ( is this even a word?) That’s a possibility sure. Ha haa... .
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➰The first time I questioned perfection was the time when Martha Stewart asked me to divide strawberries into three categories on set for a photo-shoot during my styling job.

“I opened my eyes. The first light of dawn was filtering through the curtains. Without any thought, I felt, I knew, that there is infinitely more to light than we realize. That soft luminosity filtering through the curtains was love itself. Tears came into my eyes. I got up and walked around the room. I recognized the room, and yet I knew that I had never truly seen it before. Everything was fresh and pristine, as if it had just come into existence. I picked up things, a pencil, an empty bottle, marveling at the beauty and aliveness of it all.” – Eckhart Tolle

If there’s one piece of advice that I could give everyone today it is this one by Elizabeth Gilbert:

“Dance. Right now. Stand up out of the chair that you are seated in, or the bed that you are brooding in, or the couch that has taken you captive. Put on some music and dance. Yes, even though you don’t feel like it. Dance. Dancing is free. It is available at any moment.

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

becoming present x breathe : According to Thich Nhat Hanh, breathing meditation is the most simple and basic meditation technique but also the most useful. Why? Because we’re always breathing. You can literally practice this anywhere, anytime, even if it’s for 15 seconds. The main crux of this technique is that you simply focus on your breath. .

Two monks while practicing their walking meditation happen to come across a woman with a long kimono. The woman tries to cross a very muddy road, but she’s not daring to step into the mud. So, one monk picks her up, carries her across the road through the mud, puts her down. The monks then continue to walk on in silence for another four or five hours, practicing noble silence…

With a 15-Minute exercise routine, you can maintain good health, fight disease, and enhance the quality of your life.

I’ve come across this fantastic set of energy, breathing and stretching exercises, so-called “8 Brocades”, also known as “Ba Duan Jin” in Chinese, as part of the Tai Qi and Qigong class I’ve attended in New York.

After a quick research, I’ve found out that “Ba Duan Jin”, developed 1000 years ago by Marshal Yueh Fei, was an ancient Chinese exercise and fitness practice for improving healing, vitality, and longevity. According to historical writings, Yue Fei entered the army at 9 years old and rapidly rose within the ranks and by 26, he was a general. He developed Eight Brocades to support his warriors’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance.

“Stuffed zucchini flowers”, or 'çiçek dolması' (chee-CHECK' dole-MAH'-suh), are a great example of edible flowers and one of my all-time favorite Turkish 'meze,' or starters. In Turkish cuisine, 'dolma' means something stuffed, and 'sarma' means something wrapped.

Stuffed zucchini flowers have a light, delicate flavor and look stunning on any table. This delicacy is most common in the Aegean regions of Turkey during the spring and summer months when zucchini flowers are fresh and plentiful. It has also been rediscovered by many chic restaurants in Istanbul and other major cities.

Two monks while practicing their walking meditation happen to come across a woman with a long kimono. The woman tries to cross a very muddy road, but she’s not daring to step into the mud. So, one monk picks her up, carries her across the road through the mud, puts her down. The monks then continue to walk on in silence for another four or five hours, practicing noble silence…

Artichokes are a hearty vegetable that can be grown in any climate, and enjoyed throughout fall! Follow this guide to learn how to grow artichokes in your garden! 

Artichokes are perennial heirloom plants with edible (& delicious!) flower buds that thrive in climates with foggy, cool summers and mild winters. Artichokes can be planted in the fall, but it is important to protect their roots with a good mulching through the winter months. 

Take a moment and pause! We wish our friends in the US a Merry Christmas and happy holidays…

Last year, today, we attended the Christmas Mass at Princeton University’s beautiful Chapel together with our friends and had a very peaceful evening….

As part of my quest to have a better and deeper understanding about the meditation practice and apply it to my daily life, I mostly try to reach out as much sources as possible. This is because I believe every time I come across a new material that catches my attention, whether it be a book, article, video, or podcast, I either learn something new or gain a new perspective.

“Suppose you are offered a cup of tea, very fragrant, very good tea. If your mind is distracted, you cannot really enjoy the tea. You have to be mindful of the tea, you have to be concentrated on it, so the tea can reveal its fragrance and wonder to you.“ These are the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his pioneering teachings on Mindfulness. His words also hold true for life. Life becomes full and beautiful only if we learn to slow down and live mindfully. Otherwise, life can’t reveal its fragrance and beauty to us.

We believe the healing and transformational power of dance. Bundled with present moment awareness, body awareness and observation of our underlying emotions, we create a space for contemplation. It’s not only a work-out, but also work-in. And that’s what matters!

w a b i s a b i | Love the idea of perfection of being - not so perfect. 〰️ .

✏️Note to self! “Things can be perfectly imperfect! .
.
➰ I guess I must be challenged by perfection somehow that I have started to have “wabi sabi” in my mind these days. May be it is just to justify my imperfectness ( is this even a word?) That’s a possibility sure. Ha haa... .
.
➰The first time I questioned perfection was the time when Martha Stewart asked me to divide strawberries into three categories on set for a photo-shoot during my styling job.

“Would you like to have something to drink?”. This very question, especially asked during morning hours sparks an immediate answer in us. And the answer mostly involves an “espresso” drink. To take the edge off, or give us a kick or keep us going. Sounds familiar? Whichever the reason why, our preference, if available, could be either a Macchiato or a Cortado depending on our current mood.

These drinks are somehow also directly associated with our work/office environment. Two components going hand-in-hand, all the time. Due to the nature of our business model (Branding, Design, UX ) that requires mobility and being always “on”, this means “coffee shops” with high-speed internet access.

It’s kind of an obsessive interest of mine that I often enjoy and appreciate some peculiar words more than others only because they would have not one, but multiple meanings. Regardless of any specific language…

When was the last time you’ve meet someone new? Or what are the odds that someone you’ve recently met becomes your new friend, so quickly?