I find myself thinking of Beelin Sayadaw on nights when the effort to stay disciplined feels solitary, dull, and entirely disconnected from the romanticized versions of spirituality found online. The reason Beelin Sayadaw surfaces in my mind tonight is unclear; perhaps it is because my surroundings feel so stark. Inspiration and sweetness are absen

My thoughts have frequently returned to the metaphor of pillars over the last few days. I'm not talking about the grand, symbolic pillars that adorn the entrances of museums, but rather the ones buried deep within a structure that stay invisible until you realize they are preventing the entire structure from falling. That is the image that persists