Zen Commuter

On today's Tricycle Tuesday, I explore "Helping Yourself Helps Others" by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, from the Spring 2026 issue of Tricycle. The article reminds us that caring for ourselves and caring for others aren't competing paths: as we cultivate wisdom, steadiness, and compassion within ourselves, we become better able to bring those qualities into the world. Our practice doesn't end when we rise from the cushion—it becomes meaningful in how we speak, act, and use what we've learned to ease the suffering of those around us. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Having a consistent practice is a good thing, but it's not the only thing.  Today I share my own experience with the recent time when my practice became irregular. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Today I continue my warm and wonderful chat with Jen Kalawur. In this segment, we talk about the importance of listening to your intuition when it let's know what your body and mind truly need. To that end, we also talk about the importance of a healthy diet: not food, but information. And finally, Jen talks about the important work she does in helping her clients see their lives in a fuller, more expansive way. Come Listen. Connect with Jennifer kalawur Website: navigatelifetransitions.net An incredible guide to help you begin nurturing a loving relationship with yourself. Click Here THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

On today's episode, I sit down with Jennifer Kalawur, a mindful leadership coach whose work blends emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and grounded presence. Together, we explore how mindfulness reshapes the way we lead, communicate, and care for ourselves in a world that often pulls us in every direction. Jennifer shares her own journey, the practices that keep her anchored, and the powerful ways we can bring more clarity and compassion into both our personal and professional lives. If you've ever wondered how calm can inform courage — or how awareness can transform connection — this conversation will speak directly to that place within you. Connect with Jennifer kalawur Website: navigatelifetransitions.net An incredible guide to help you begin nurturing a loving relationship with yourself. Click Here THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Getting distracted during meditation doesn't mean you're doing it wrong—it means you've just become aware. In today's episode of Zen Commuter, I share three simple steps for meeting that moment: recognize that your mind has wandered, respond to yourself with kindness rather than judgment, and gently return to your breath or chosen anchor. Each return is not a failure but a repetition that strengthens awareness. The goal isn't to stop thinking; it's to notice when you've drifted and begin again. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

On today's Tricycle Tuesday, I explore "Helping Yourself Helps Others" by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, from the Spring 2026 issue of Tricycle. The article reminds us that caring for ourselves and caring for others aren't competing paths: as we cultivate wisdom, steadiness, and compassion within ourselves, we become better able to bring those qualities into the world. Our practice doesn't end when we rise from the cushion—it becomes meaningful in how we speak, act, and use what we've learned to ease the suffering of those around us. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Many people feel like they don't have time to meditate, especially during a busy commute. But what if that commute became part of your practice? Today on Zen Commuter, we'll talk about how to use your car as a space for mindfulness. While safety must always be the priority, there are ways to incorporate stillness and presence even while driving. Whether you're parked or driving, there are ways to become still. What we'll cover: When it's safe and not safe to engage in meditative techniques while in your car 3 important things to note when meditating in your parked car Turning red lights and traffic into mindfulness bells THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

How we sit in a meditation varies by practitioner. However, there are some aspects of a meditative posture that will serve your session and practice. Let's talk about them. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

I have been away from the mic for, well, for as long as I have been away. And while there is no explanation needed; I provide one nonetheless. Thank you all for your grace and understanding. I missed you all, and am glad to be back. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Nineteen Buddhist monks set out from Fort Worth, Texas, on a 2,300-mile pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., carrying a message of peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Despite harsh weather, physical exhaustion, and serious injury, their simple act of placing one foot in front of the other captured the attention of millions. In the Tricycle article, "What Do Buddhists Think of Fort Worth's 'Walk for Peace' Monks?", Buddhist teachers and authors reflect on why this journey resonated so deeply with people searching for hope, connection, and an alternative to the anger and division surrounding us. In today's episode, I explore what these monks can teach us about peace as an embodied practice. Their pilgrimage reminds us that peace is not passive, nor is it something we must wait for the world to create on our behalf. It can begin with our own intentional steps—through compassion, generosity, mindful presence, and the small ways we choose to meet one another each day. We may never walk thousands of miles, but every on

One of the greatest benefits of meditation is its ability to help us understand that we can sit with anything that comes our way, seemingly good or bad. With a solid practice, we can objectively think thoughts and feel emotions, without the need to be dragged into them against our will. Today I talk about the calm that comes from knowing that nothing needs to change. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Sometimes (for many people, always) we see the end of the day as the finish line. Along the way we treat each interaction or moment as something to rate or change. We tally the score at the end of the day and determine if the day was a success or a failure. Did you know that no day is ever a success or failure; it simply is. But there is a way to enhance your perception of the day. Come listen how. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

In this episode, I share and reflect on part of a thoughtful article from Lion's Roar exploring anger through the lens of Buddhist practice. As one of the "three poisons" alongside greed and ignorance, anger can easily pull us away from peace and connection when left unexamined. Rather than condemning anger or pretending it shouldn't exist, this discussion gently explores how awareness, compassion, and understanding can transform our relationship with difficult emotions and help us respond to life with greater clarity and calm. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

If you have meditated in the past and have fallen off your practice, then today's episode is for you. If you are listening to this episode and your practice has stopped, then it's safe to say you are eager to start it up again. But if you don't know why it stopped, it might get derailed again. No worries. Today, I share with you eight reasons why you may have stopped. the purpose is easy; if you know why you stopped, you'll be prepared should the circumstances line up to kick you off the trail again…And you'll be ready! THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

In this episode, we sit down with multi-hyphenate storyteller Christopher Rivas — actor, writer, Buddhist practitioner, and host of the Brown Enough podcast. We dive deep into themes of identity, race, belonging, and what it means to "live in the middle space." Christopher shares his journeys into Buddhism, the stories behind his creative work (including Brown Enough and Rubirosa), and how life, art, and spiritual practice intersect for him. ✨ Guest Bio & Links Christopher Rivas is an actor, author, playwright, and podcast host known for exploring issues of race, culture, identity, and transformation. Christopher Rivas He hosts the Brown Enough podcast, where he explores what it means to navigate "brownness" in a Black/white world. Brown Enough Podcast He also created Rubirosa, a documentary-style story about Porfirio Rubirosa (a Dominican figure many believe inspired James Bond). Rubirosa Podcast Key writings in Tricycle Magazine Christopher regularly contributes essays to Tricycle. A few notable o

In today's episode, I share a thoughtful piece from Tricycle: The Buddhist Review titled Silent Underground by Aryavandana. It's a gentle yet powerful reflection on the unseen roots of our practice—the quiet, often unnoticed ways that mindfulness and compassion take hold beneath the surface of our daily lives. Much like roots growing in the dark, our practice doesn't always announce itself, but over time, it nourishes a steadier, more grounded way of being. Take a few minutes to explore how what's unseen within you may be shaping something truly beautiful. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Today I want to talk about the comfort that comes from knowing that in every situation you are completely safe. You might be thinking…"Thom, that is a nice thought, but not a real one…Have you seen the world lately?" I have, and I'm sticking by my premise. And hopefully, if it serves you, you might do the same. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

In today's Tricycle Tuesday, we explore the article The Economy of Grace, a reflection on the quiet abundance that arises when we shift from striving to allowing. Rather than measuring life through effort and achievement, this piece invites us to recognize the grace that is already present—flowing through our relationships, our practice, and the simple moments we often overlook. Join me as we consider what it means to live not from scarcity, but from a place of openness, receptivity, and trust. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!

Today I bring you along to my meditation chair, when I get ready to practice. Specifically, I let you in on how I decide to practice each day. There are three questions I ask myself once I sit down that determine the path of my practice for that day. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show!