I stayed for some time in a Buddhist monastery in a jungle in southern Thailand. At first, it was my torment. There were no screens in the windows to keep the bugs away and this was my first experience sleeping with a wooden pillow. But as the days, weeks, and months went on, the lack of comforts became my salvation. This monastery became one of the greatest spiritual experiences in…
Q: Dear Todd, if you did immoral things before you were awakened to the universal truths will you be held accountable for those things in this life or future lives?TODD ANSWERS: Is a tiger responsible for killing a gazelle? I don’t think so. I think it is a creature living out its own nature based on its past karma/cause-and-effect. When we act with unawareness, we are not in control. Only…
What role do rituals, traditions and religious communities have in an individual's path to spiritual awakening? Can religion help us reach our ultimate potential? Or, are they nothing but superstitions and fairy tales? Do they create positive outlets for spiritual growth, or do they simply further divide our already divided planet? In this podcast episode, I explore the pros and cons of going to church, temple or mosque. I dive…
Q: Dear Todd, I'm really going through a lot since I embarked on this spiritual journey. My life changed drastically. I have so many questions about what is going on with me. I do meditation but how can I turn this confusion around?Todd Answers: Luckily, only the mind creates confusion. When you let go of the desire for answers and clarity, not only do answers and clarity appear, but that…
Q: Dear Todd, I started my spiritual journey last year and now I am experiencing chest pains. What am I doing wrong? TODD ANSWERS: We’re so used to doing things and we become so attached to our desired outcome that we cannot be present and relaxed and enjoy the journey. This can be stressful. The best thing to do is let go of expectations and just let whatever comes to…
Q: Dear Todd, How Can I Get Over my Grudges? Giving love and forgiveness to others is the greatest gift you can ever give to yourself. When we love and forgive others, we do not lose anything. We in fact gain peace of mind, joyousness, and greater physical and mental health. The more joy and love within you, the more joy and love you put into the world and the…
Q: Dear Todd, there are distractions like the war in Ukraine or famine in a neighboring country, in my case Afghanistan, and people who are just trying to own more and more. I have a family to support and a job that I need just to survive. I understand that those are external stuff but they affect my relationships - I am becoming very distant from everybody, and my productivity…
It’s like we’ve all been wearing super high-definition virtual reality headsets with surround sound and smellavision all our lives. It’s easy to forget the awe and wonder that lies just beneath the surface. Our brains are physical objects designed to recreate the physical world. But the more we practice, the more we listen to our heart and intuition, and the more tuned we will be to our own inner peace…
I'd ran into a guy in India who told me about this Vipassana retreat he'd done. He told me it was super difficult but really great. You have to wake up at 4am everyday and meditate for 12 hours a day. No phones, no reading, no talking, no writing, don't even look other students in the eye.Eager for real, transformative experiences, I signed up the first chance I got. It…
1. Just like the body is constantly eliminating toxins, the mind needs to as well. We need to give it time to rest, reflect, and find peace in the present moment. 2. Life will sometimes be exciting, and sometimes it'll be uneventful. Both of these are just parts of life. We can either escape life, or we can embrace it. 3. When we are mindlessly taking our phone out, then…
“I thought my biggest fear was growing old and dying in prison. In truth, my biggest fear was growing old and not knowing myself.”
- Rick Smith, Albama inmate
A newsletter not just for your mental health but also for your spiritual health.
