Bonjour.

Welcome to the 197th edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show features upcOMing happenings and musings on meditation with Karen Maezen Miller.

Workshops + Retreats: Consider joining moi for:
* our seasonal Tranquilology Teleclass on Monday, September 20
* my latest e-course The Tranquility Project launches September 22
* a Tranquilista book event in NYC (deets to cOMe)
* Tranquil Space Foundation’s 4th Annual Celebration on Thursday, October 14
* a Yoga Retreat in India November 12-21
* a “New Year, New You Urban Retreat” in DC on January 8, 2011
* 2 workshops at Montreal’s Centre Luna Yoga on April 9, 2011
* a “Yoga, Creativity + Tranquility Lifestyle Retreat” at a Farmhouse in NY October 14-16, 2011. All the details here.

Featured Tranquilista: Karen Maezen Miller
I call myself an errant wife, delinquent mother, reluctant dog walker, expert laundress and stationmaster of the full catastrophe. I’m also a Zen Buddhist priest and teacher, or sensei, at the Hazy Moon Zen Center in Los Angeles. Don’t let that last part confuse you. I’m not the kind of priest you have pictured in your mind. I’m the kind of priest that looks a lot like you do, doing the same kinds of things you do, every day.

If every Tuesday afternoon you wheeled your garbage cans out to the curb and saw your next-door neighbor doing the very same thing, your neighbor would be me.

I write about spirituality in everyday life. My newest book is Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life (New World Library, April 2010).

My middle name is pronounced “May-zen” and it is my dharma name, or Buddhist name. When my daughter was little, I wrote a book called Momma Zen, and now some people call me that. I also answer to Maezen, or to Karen, or to Mom, or to Mrs. Miller, or to anything at all. The point is, I answer. And when I do, I say, “yes.” I try to say “yes” to whatever I’m asked. That means I’m happy to speak to community groups, schools, churches or conferences – any group that wants to be transported to a realm of calm assurance and infinite patience in 90 minutes or less. I also host my own one-day retreats around the country. For information about where I’m speaking soon, look here. For details about upcoming retreats, check here. Contact me to arrange an appearance near you.

My husband, daughter and I live in Sierra Madre, California, where we have a century-old Japanese garden in our own backyard. We are very lucky. Plus, I do a lot of weeding, raking and picking up after the dog. It helps me not take myself so seriously.

Savvy Sources:
Karen’s website
Twitter
Facebook

OMwork:
Take a mOMent to sit this week.

Signature Style: TranquiliT is a line of layers in rayon made from organic bamboo. Locally sewn with 150 trees planted each month. Featured sneak peek at *draft* of new website. Feedback always appreciated. Lots of how to wear tips and more!

Stay Au Courant:
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Follow moi on Twitter for daily sprinkles of tranquility.
Watch Tranquility du Jour TV.
Browse Hip Tranquil Chick and Tranquilista.
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Join Tranquilista’s like page.

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Elements by Global Journey. You can learn more about their music at global-journey.com.

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