About

My Morning Monk is a daily practice of reading and reflection, drawing from the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (the Majjhima Nikāya) — a collection of 152 suttas that form one of the core texts of early Buddhism.

Each morning, a new passage appears here, accompanied by a summary and a personal reflection written in the voice of "The Monk" — a contemplative character inspired by the quiet naturalism of Peter Matthiessen and the beginner's mind clarity of Shunryu Suzuki.

The Voice

The Monk speaks from a place of gentle uncertainty. He is not enlightened, not a master, not even particularly wise. He is simply someone who has spent time with these teachings and finds them helpful for navigating ordinary life — the commute, the inbox, the 3 AM worry, the unexpected joy of morning light.

His voice is informed by:

• Peter Matthiessen (The Snow Leopard) — for his naturalist awe, his acknowledgment of human fallibility, and his willingness to be astonished
• Shunryu Suzuki (Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind) — for his clarity, his humor, and his insistence that we already have everything we need

The Texts

The Majjhima Nikāya contains some of Buddhism's most practical instructions on meditation, ethics, and the nature of mind. These suttas were likely composed within a few centuries of the Buddha's life, and they remain startlingly relevant — full of psychology, phenomenology, and an unsentimental compassion for the difficulty of being human.

This site does not attempt to be scholarly or comprehensive. It selects passages that seem particularly useful for contemplative life today, and it interprets them with humility and a certain amount of creative license.

A Note of Caution

This site offers literary and spiritual commentary, not medical, psychological, or religious instruction. The Monk is a character, not a licensed therapist or ordained teacher. If you're struggling with mental health, please seek qualified professional support. If you're drawn to deepen your practice, find a real teacher in a real community.

The best thing about morning light is that it doesn't ask anything of you. Neither does this site. Read when you feel like it. Skip days. Return when you're ready. The teachings will still be here, patient as stone.