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Oren Jay Sofer

Home
Events
Programs
Say What You Mean
Clear Dharma Sangha
Immersion in NVC
Retreats
Login
Resources
Articles
Audio Video
Communication
Invitations
Referrals
Reading List
Qi Gong
FAQ
Books
Your Heart Was Made For This
Say What You Mean
Speak Your Truth Audio Pgm
Teen Mindfulness
Book Resources
Subscribe
September 19, 2025
Practice
Oren Jay Sofer
Finding Your Roots in the Storm

How do we keep our hearts open and balanced when so much is out of our hands? A reflection on equanimity and the small acts that help us stay grounded and connected.

Finding Your Roots in the Storm
May 13, 2025
Practice
Oren Jay Sofer
The Power of Wise Speech in a Fractured World

What we say—and how we listen—matters more than ever. Even amidst conflict or collapse, the way we speak can be a refuge, a bridge, a seed of something new.

The Power of Wise Speech in a Fractured World
March 7, 2025
Practice
Oren Jay Sofer
Love as the Practice of Our Time

In uncertain times, love becomes our greatest refuge and source of strength. Love is something we return to inwardly, again and again.

Love as the Practice of Our Time
January 6, 2025
Practice
Oren Jay Sofer
Starting the Year with Clarity and Intention

This reflection practice on beginning the new year offers a potent way to step back, nourish wisdom, and recommit to our values.

Starting the Year with Clarity and Intention
October 7, 2024
Practice, Personal Reflections
Oren Jay Sofer
The Seeds Buried in Grief: Why is it so hard to ...

Today marks one year since the Hamas attacks in Israel, and nearly that long since Israel’s retaliation in Gaza and the West Bank began—a year of loss, unimaginable grief, spiraling violence, and a growing humanitarian crisis.

The Seeds Buried in Grief: Why is it so hard to talk about Israel-Palestine?
Oren Jay Sofer
September 11, 2017
Poetry

Water

Oren Jay Sofer
September 11, 2017
Poetry
Water

Water is a powerful metaphor for the mind and the practice of the Dharma. Taoists liken the water to the Way (Tao), because of its innate properties.

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
August 26, 2017
Older Posts

Bringing Mindfulness Back to School

Oren Jay Sofer
August 26, 2017
Older Posts
Bringing Mindfulness Back to School

For those working with youth, reflections and a guided meditation on using mindfulness to start the school year off with clarity, purpose, and care.

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
June 30, 2017
Practice, Older Posts

The Three Most Common Pitfalls in Nonviolent Communication

Oren Jay Sofer
June 30, 2017
Practice, Older Posts
The Three Most Common Pitfalls in Nonviolent Communication

Why do communication techniques sometimes backfire? How can Nonviolent Communication be best used? Can mindfulness help us find balance when things don't go the way we'd hoped?

Tagged: Communication

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
May 5, 2017
Older Posts

The Necessity of Joy

Oren Jay Sofer
May 5, 2017
Older Posts
The Necessity of Joy

To do any kind of real work requires both external and internal resources. We need resilience to face pain, strength to persevere through challenge. There’s nothing quite like joy to bring resilience and strength to the heart.

Tagged: Meditation, Resilience

2 Comments
Oren Jay Sofer
February 3, 2017
Older Posts

What's Mindfulness Got to Do with Politics?

Oren Jay Sofer
February 3, 2017
Older Posts
What's Mindfulness Got to Do with Politics?

As great forces of change, divergent views, and protests sweep across the country, I share reflections how mindfulness practice can help us to meet and respond to current events.

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
January 28, 2017
Older Posts

Inner Listening for the Revolution

Oren Jay Sofer
January 28, 2017
Older Posts
Inner Listening for the Revolution

As we rise up to meet the challenges of our times, our ability to care for and nourish ourselves has never been more important. At its core, mindfulness can be understood as a practice of deep, whole-hearted listening.

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
December 10, 2016
Practice

The Practice of Walking

Oren Jay Sofer
December 10, 2016
Practice
The Practice of Walking


When we walk with full awareness, our locomotion can soothe our hearts and train our minds to dwell more completely in the present.

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
November 11, 2016
Older Posts

After a Divided Election: The Value and Limits of Mindfulness

Oren Jay Sofer
November 11, 2016
Older Posts
After a Divided Election: The Value and Limits of Mindfulness

Many across the nation and beyond have been deeply affected by our most recent election here in the U.S. What can mindfulness teach us about responding?

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
October 25, 2016
Older Posts

Cultivating Generosity, Love and Community

Oren Jay Sofer
October 25, 2016
Older Posts
Cultivating Generosity, Love and Community

The path of practice is about much more than meditation. It’s about the possibility each of us has to bring forth goodness into the world with this human heart and mind; it is a cultivation of the heart. 

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
September 26, 2016
Older Posts

Mindfulness as a Way of Life

Oren Jay Sofer
September 26, 2016
Older Posts
Mindfulness as a Way of Life

Developing a natural ease in mindfulness practice helps us shift from viewing it as a special, separate activity to a foundation for the rest of our lives.

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
August 15, 2016
Older Posts

Mindfulness and High Volume Doing

Oren Jay Sofer
August 15, 2016
Older Posts
Mindfulness and High Volume Doing

How can we protect mindfulness from becoming subsumed by the culture of doing, and use it to counter the effects of "high volume doing?"

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
July 10, 2016
Older Posts

Practicing with Grief, Sadness and Anger

Oren Jay Sofer
July 10, 2016
Older Posts
Practicing with Grief, Sadness and Anger

Mourning the tragic loss of life in the killings of the last week in the U.S., how do we practice with painful emotions in relation these events?

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
June 23, 2016
Older Posts

Finding Time to Practice

Oren Jay Sofer
June 23, 2016
Older Posts
Finding Time to Practice

A primary challenge today for those interested in mindfulness is finding the time to practice. This can be especially true for educators.

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
April 17, 2016
Personal Reflections

Returning to Lay Life

Oren Jay Sofer
April 17, 2016
Personal Reflections
Returning to Lay Life

Reflections on the choice to give up training as a novice Buddhist renunciate and return to lay life. 

10 Comments
Oren Jay Sofer
April 8, 2016
Older Posts

Heartfulness Practice

Oren Jay Sofer
April 8, 2016
Older Posts
Heartfulness Practice

In order for mindfulness to take root in our lives and to receive its full range of benefits, it needs to be infused with heartfulness

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
February 10, 2016
Older Posts

The Key to Strengthening Mindfulness

Oren Jay Sofer
February 10, 2016
Older Posts
The Key to Strengthening Mindfulness

One key to strengthen mindfulness that's often overlooked is how to create a positive feedback loop in our practice

Tagged: Meditation

1 Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
February 1, 2016
Older Posts

The Practice of Mindful Communication

Oren Jay Sofer
February 1, 2016
Older Posts
The Practice of Mindful Communication

Explore the foundations of Mindful Communication, including three core principles and practices.

Tagged: Communication

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
November 29, 2015
Older Posts

Where Our Heart Meets the World

Oren Jay Sofer
November 29, 2015
Older Posts
Where Our Heart Meets the World

How do we truly make our life and our spiritual practice one? Reflections on cultivating inner freedom and meeting the world.

Tagged: Meditation

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
August 17, 2015
Older Posts

The Power of Presence

Oren Jay Sofer
August 17, 2015
Older Posts
The Power of Presence

Presence is an integral foundation for our lives, our relationships and communication. Learn more about why...

Tagged: Communication

Comment
Oren Jay Sofer
January 16, 2015
Personal Reflections

Anagarika: Living with Renunciation

Oren Jay Sofer
January 16, 2015
Personal Reflections
Anagarika: Living with Renunciation

A series of reflections on my time ordained as an Anagarika and the role of renunciation in Buddhist practice.

2 Comments
Newer Posts
Older Posts

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