Every year, millions of birds fly thousands of miles between two homes. They leave the place that was perfect for summer. They haven’t arrived at the place that will be perfect for winter. They’re in between. Neither here nor there. Not in the old life, not yet in the new one. This is called migration. […]
Murcia, Spain, 1165. A young boy named Muhammad ibn Arabi sat in his father’s study, trembling. He’d just had a vision – mystical, overwhelming, terrifying in its beauty. His father’s friends, the respected scholars, told him: “This is arrogance. This is your ego pretending to be holy. You’re not special. You’re delusional.” The boy believed
Before he became the Buddha, he was the most liked man in the kingdom. Prince Siddhartha. Handsome. Wealthy. Talented. Loved by everyone who met him. His father made sure of it – built him three palaces, one for each season. Filled them with beautiful people, entertaining people, people who smiled and agreed and made him
The owl doesn’t move for three hours. Perched on a branch in the grey hour before dawn. Absolutely still. Not hunting. Just waiting. Most prey animals are asleep. The world is quiet. And the owl sits. Eyes open. Every sense alive. Completely present. But not acting. What We Got Wrong About Patience You think patience
The most powerful man in the world couldn’t sleep. Marcus Aurelius – Roman Emperor, commander of the greatest army on Earth, ruler of an empire spanning three continents. And at 3 AM, between battles, between the weight of decisions that would affect millions, between the performance of being the Philosopher King – he was awake.
They came for him at midnight. The scholars who couldn’t bear his joy. His freedom. His refusal to make God small enough to fit inside their rules. Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi – the most celebrated poet, the most respected teacher in 13th century Konya. They burned his books. They drove out his students. They took
