To become a Buddhist nun—or monk—is to step into a life that unravels everything familiar. It is not a change of clothes but a vow that shapes every detail of existence. Before I was ordained, I sought the guidance of several masters. Two questions followed me everywhere: Where are you going to live? and HowContinue reading “Devotion to the Buddhist Path: Reflections from an X-Nun’s Life”
Author Archives: Lama Chimey
Remembering Now — The Hidden Depth of Mindfulness
Mindfulness — the word rolls off the tongue like a diet soda: light, mildly flavored, unassuming. Behind it, however, lies something far richer, subtle, and enduring. In Buddha Shakyamuni’s original instruction, the Pāli term Sati doesn’t nudge you to “stop and smell the roses.” It means to remember now — to hold this living momentContinue reading “Remembering Now — The Hidden Depth of Mindfulness”
What Life as a Buddhist Nun Taught Me About Living with Bare Minimum
© Photographer I once owned only two sets of clothes. One set was on my body. The other was dripping on a line. I washed them in cold water, in a plastic bucket. No sun to help them dry. Just wind, time, and the bite of Himalayan air. I wore my outer robes for weeksContinue reading “What Life as a Buddhist Nun Taught Me About Living with Bare Minimum”
Leadership as Sacred Space: Buddhist Teachings for Conscious Impact
“You do not have to live in the world you are given.”— Margaret Atwood In a culture obsessed with doing, measuring, and maximizing, leadership is often reduced to performance. Metrics replace meaning. Urgency outshouts wisdom. But what if leadership is something else entirely — not a role, but a sacred space? In Buddhist philosophy, particularlyContinue reading “Leadership as Sacred Space: Buddhist Teachings for Conscious Impact”
Three Gentle Shifts Toward a Buddhist-Inspired Lifestyle
I didn’t stumble into Buddhism after a crisis or dramatic life event.There was no breaking point, no overnight awakening. I was a teenager—already drawn to the philosophical and contemplative—and Buddhism felt like a language I somehow already understood. Not in its rituals or cultural expressions at first, but in its view of mind, of suffering,Continue reading “Three Gentle Shifts Toward a Buddhist-Inspired Lifestyle”
Sacred Sound in a Shifting World: A Buddhist Minister Reflects
It was one of those rare Swedish summer days when the sun actually stays and the sky feels like it might never let go of the light. I took the boat out to one of the islands in the Stockholm archipelago. The sea was full of movement—waves catching light, wind skimming the surface. Later thatContinue reading “Sacred Sound in a Shifting World: A Buddhist Minister Reflects”
Interdependence Day — A Jataka Tale for the 4th of July
AI Generated image While fireworks crackle across the summer sky and families gather to celebrate independence across the United States, there’s an ancient story from the Buddha’s past lives that offers a gentle nudge toward a deeper kind of freedom — one rooted not in separation, but in connection. Here in Europe, we may notContinue reading “Interdependence Day — A Jataka Tale for the 4th of July”
5 Ways to Lead From Inner Wisdom—Even in Flip-Flops
Your Leadership Doesn’t Take Time Off Summer offers a rare invitation: to slow down, to let go of structure, to reconnect with something deeper than deadlines. Yet even in rest, life continues to unfold—sometimes gently, sometimes unexpectedly. A decision must be made. A message arrives. A loved one struggles. Or perhaps the shift is internal:Continue reading “5 Ways to Lead From Inner Wisdom—Even in Flip-Flops”
From Fear to Clarity: What Buddhism Teaches About Anxiety and the Mind
The Faithful Companion of the Constructed Self Fear is a faithful companion of the constructed self. While the monkey mind clings to imagined futures, perceived threats, and the fragile sense of self we spend so much energy protecting. And when fear is left unchecked—when it loops through our inner dialogue, unresolved and unnamed—it quietly germinatesContinue reading “From Fear to Clarity: What Buddhism Teaches About Anxiety and the Mind”
Explore What Meditation Paths are Best for You: Theravāda, Mahāyāna, or Vajrayāna
In our modern meditation landscape, the word meditation has taken on many shapes. We see apps, retreats, and hashtags offering everything from stress relief to spiritual awakening. But behind all this modern accessibility lies an ancient, nuanced map of meditation traditions—each with its own depth, method, and view. As someone who has walked this pathContinue reading “Explore What Meditation Paths are Best for You: Theravāda, Mahāyāna, or Vajrayāna”