Wise Attention Blog
Wise Attention includes 20 years of writing exploring what it means to practice Buddhism, mindfulness and ethics in the modern world. You’ll find reviews, talks, interviews, broadcasts and reflection on the arts as well as reflections on the Buddha and Buddhist teachings
‘The Escape Artist’: Powerful Holocaust Lesson for the Post-Truth World
An account of escaping Auschwitz with a sobering reflection on how deeply we repress knowledge of death: a Holocaust lesson for the post-truth world The usual question the Holocaust raises is: 'How could this happen, how could people act so inhumanely'. In fact, for...
The Secret of Public Ethics is Ethical Training
As the government and public bodies in the UK face ethical scrutiny, we need to see ethics as Buddhists do: starting with individuals and matter of training Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4 26.01.2023 The Committee for Standards in Public Life, which reported again...
The Karma of Banking in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
I sat down on Christmas Eve to watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ – it’s been a while – expecting a comforting serving of Christmas sentimentality with extra cheese. What I saw was a polemic about banking and a parable about karma and interconnectedness. You may be...
To protect biodiversity we need the Bodhisattva’s compassion
The UN Biodiversity Conference is a last ditch effort to safeguard the living world. We shouldrespond with the spirit of the Bodhisattva Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4. .7.10.2022 What are animals for? Or plants, fish and insects? The utilitarian answer is...
The Queen’s death is a powerful reminder to reflect on impermanence
The Queen's funeral is a reminder that everything we experience is subject to change. Buddhists reflect on impermanence to focus on what's most important Thought for the Day, 21.09.2022 Autumn has come quickly this year. Three weeks out of August, it’s still harvest...
How to Teach Wellbeing in the Curriculum for Wales
Wales' new school curriculum places wellbeing and emotional intelligence at the heart of education. It's a big challenge, but Buddhist perspectives are helping Weekend Word, BBC Radio Wales 26th August 2020 GCSE results are out, and before long it will be a new school...
Cherish Water in a Drought
We're in a drought, and caring for our water supply means feeling it's importance. We need to get wet Thought For The Day 23.08.2022 Across the country record low rainfall and high temperatures have depleted reservoirs and dried up rivers. We’ve seen hosepipe bans in...
Tackling The Food Crisis Means Changing How We Think
As food prices rise, we need to question the system that created it. Systems thinking and the Buddhist teaching of Dependent Arising can help Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4 13.07.2022 As food prices rise, many people here in Wales, as elsewhere, are skipping meals...
Peter Brook Created Holy Theatre in an Empty Space
Visionary theatre director Peter Brook created Holy Theatre in an 'Empty Space', echoing the Buddhist teaching of Emptiness and Tibetan Buddhist meditation Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4, 06 July 2022 When I was a theatre student in the 1980s Peter Book, who died...
Skilful Communication Lessons for Social Media
A battle is under way between governments wanting to rein in social media, and advocates of unfettered free speech. We need to reconsider what skilful communication looks like, and the Buddha is an outstanding exemplar Thought for the Day BBC Radio 4, 12.05.2022...
Zen lessons for the important inner dimension of Climate Change
Climate change is often presented as a technical issue that needs a technical fix, but as the IPCC recognise, it has an 'inner dimension' that aligns with Buddhist teachings Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4 07.05.2022 My son turns thirteen today and it seems quite a...
‘The Sound of One Hand’. Why You’ll Love this Funny, Moving Triratna Memoir
The Sound of One HandBy SatyadasaWindhorse Publications, 2022 Like Satyadasa I’ve been a part of the Triratna Buddhist Community for the whole of my adult life. He’s about a decade younger than me, but many of the Triratna experiences he describes in The Sound of One...
The Endurance has been found. But how can we develop endurance for ourselves?
Ernest Shackleton's lost ship, Endurance, has been discovered. From Shackleton to President Zelensky, endurance is a profound virtue. So how can we develop it? Thought for the Day, 10/03/2022 In the profound silence of the deep ocean, three thousand feet below the...
Buddhists Respond to the Invasion of Ukraine
Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4 03 March 2022 – Vishvapani As the Russian Tanks roll into Ukraine, how relevant is the Buddhist teaching of non-violence? Each week I meet with local members of my Buddhist Order for a chapter meeting, and we talk about what’s...
How to Stop Climate Change: Less Stuff and More Contentment
Ho can we find things we love that enhance the quality of our lives without increasing the quantity of our stuff?
Buddhism & Vaccine Equity: the Wise Way is Generosity
The case for a fair and equitable roll out of Covid vaccines is clear, but the developed world is failing to heed it. Buddhism teaches that a generous response is also a wise one Thought for the Day 08.10.2021 The case for global vaccine equity seems straightforward....
Buddhist Wisdom in a World Where the News Never Stops
As the pandemic drags on, and the news never seems to stop, Buddhists are celebrating Dharma Day and reflecting on the Buddha's teaching of the Four Noble Truths Thought for the Day 23/07/2021 It never stops. Some of the Covid restrictions may be ending, but not the...
As covid restrictions wind down, we need to balance control with freedom
Weekend Word, BBC radio Wales, 16.07.2021 From next Monday, if you take a train from Swansea to London you’ll be required to wear a face mask as you travel through Wales. Once you’ve passed through the Severn Tunnel, you can take it off if you want because the rules...