‘On the Japanese island of Shikoku, amidst mountains, coasts, and bamboo forests, lies one of the world’s most sacred trails—the eighty-eight-temple pilgrimage. Inspired by Paulo Coelho (author of the Alchemist) and driven by dissatisfaction with the day-to-day grind, Matt Jardine embarks on a journey in search of answers to life’s great questions, mysteries that confound … More The Hardest Path
At last, it happened. And, I suppose, it was only a matter of time, knowing that it is impossible to please all of the people, all of the time. But it’s never pleasant. Scattered amongst reviews from genuine readers delighted with ‘The Hardest Path’ was one from a professional critic that was, shall we say, … More Same old, same old
At the weekend, embarrassingly, my wife caught me in the act. I hadn’t done it in a while, several years in fact, but I finally succumbed: I watched X-Factor again. In my defence, you can learn a lot about life by watching this perennial behemoth, and it is possible to assess the direction of a … More Buddha, God and X-Factor
I call it ‘throw-away wisdom,’ and it is dangerous. You’ll recognise this kind of wisdom: “have more confidence,” “ love conquers all,” “shoot for the stars,” “believe in yourself.” There is every chance that my public flagellation of these examples of monotonous maxims will highlight me as a curmudgeonly old git, but let me finish. … More ‘Throw-away’ wisdom
My wife has recently taken up a short-term teaching position in the Middle East. It is a challenging role, not least because her reception aged children speak almost no English. But it is a position that affords challenges, cultural insights and unique experiences that her willingness to embrace will good as guarantee her evolution as … More Beginning the seekers journey
Someone once said (Christopher Hitchens, maybe?) that ‘Everyone has a book in them waiting to be written’. While this may be true, many never commit their experiences onto paper for others to consider. But why? I think the reasons are many and varied, but I would like to discuss just one today. Very simply, writing … More What will be YOUR pilgrimage?
Last night before sleep I enjoyed a few chapters from The book of Joy. It is a book that documents the talks, discussions and thoughts of two of the most joyful and influential spiritual men of our era- The Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu. It is a beautiful book and one that I would … More Grains of sand
Mental health specialists say that one in four people will suffer a mental illness during their lives. The statistic is drastic, but the reality is much sadder and profound. Look around you, right here, right now. Look at the other students sharing the dojo floor, sitting around the edges of the mats catching a breath; … More Mental Health Month
I predict a time when tired and weary looking folk will walk timidly into a musty cold church hall on a weekday evening. On arrival they will place their smartphones in a box already brimming full with temporarily abandoned devices and take one of the only empty chairs available in a circle full of people … More Generation not-so-smart phone
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