It is by entering into the unknown that the known begins to speak to us because only the unknown takes us beyond the point where our carefully constructed ideas about ourselves and life hold.

The way we experience life depends only on the extent to which we allow it to unfold.

There is such great pleasure in the simple joy of a greeting, in wishing the other well and finding the same recognition of life in the eyes.

This moment, is quite a moment, completely imbued with all life and yet just this one moment.

As we stand on the eve of yet another grand introduction to human society, in the form of the global implementation of artificial intelligence, I consider it important that we try to define in advance our relationship to its use and ask ourselves whether we really want to be in relationship with this technology?

In the encounter with the other, we can ultimately see ourselves, in a fuller sense precisely because we see the other. One could even argue that just because we see the other, we can only speak of truly seeing ourselves.

What is needed is that we become the active writers ourselves and that we work on telling a new story, a story that speaks of a loving and respectful relationship to the world.

What we see in nature are only the consequences of the inner crisis that takes place in man. The real climate crisis is a spiritual crisis, an inner crisis that is manifesting itself on the outer landscape of the Earth.

Being silent is not the same as being passive, but is about becoming so receptive that you can fully allow the world to come into that silence.

When we sow seeds of virtue, of moral values, of thoughtfulness on our inner soil, it will always bear fruit in the garden of the world.

There is a reason that 'giving' does not rhyme with 'taking', but that 'giving' rhymes beautifully with 'living'.

Every moment, every being, every action, everything that presents itself in your presence can be met and performed with love.

How to live each day in appreciation of the already present beauty that is always unfolding. How can you ensure that life becomes a ceremony? How to make sure you keep looking at the world in wonder? How to make sure you enjoy the small moments in presence?

As a mother embraces her newborn child, as a father whispers caressing words or lulls it to sleep, how can we love each other, “your neighbor”, as a parent? Through the same gestures, actions, and values that befit parenthood; being moved by a boundless compassion, an unconditional surrender, and deep devotion to being allowed to care from the deepest source of love.

Can we be intimate with beauty when we become aware that we are in her presence? Will we be able to stay with it without taking our attention away from it, without letting it evaporate or quickly posting it on social media? Can we keep it intimate by being with it? Quite a question but actually, deep down quite an invitation.

We can be inspired by looking at life and realising that it should never be just about providing for our own needs, pleasures and desires, but that our lives always include the responsibility and obligation to be of service to life, to give something back. How can you arrange your life in such a way that it serves? How can you serve other people, other beings?

Everything in life wishes to be seen, wishes to be met. It's when we meet it, when we can see it deeply that we can bring it home in our experience, we don't have to think about it, we don't have to change it, we don't have to do anything with it but see it deeply.

How many times a week or month do you wake up with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the simple fact that you are alive? Or how often do you feel unsatisfied when a new week has started and you have to go back to the office? Are you waiting for ‘something’ to be happy? Are you waiting for life?

Now that the festive days are approaching we will all be pondering "what to give?" I want to explore this question more deeply. If this is a season of gift-giving? So what are our gifts? Or what do we really have to give?

How to remain optimistic about the future we collectively move towards, in times when the horizon (literally) seems to be getting grittier? How to keep hope in times when the heaviness is so palpable and the messages for the future are not necessarily getting brighter?