GROWING BOLDER WITH

Barry Kerzin, 74

Mindfulness is one of the hottest trends in wellbeing today, but it is a concept that is hundreds, if not thousands of years old. Long considered a key component of Buddhism, mindfulness — the act of being fully aware of the present moment — has gone mainstream.

From schools to prisons to corporate training seminars, mindfulness is a popular way to find calm, and reduce stress and anxiety. More and more people, including scientists and medical experts, are buying into the potential benefits of incorporating mindful meditation into an overall health care program.

Few see this from the perspective of Barry Kerzin. He brings together two very different backgrounds, one as an American physician and the other as an ordained Buddhist monk. He serves as a personal physician to the 14th dalai lama. Kerzin believes science and spirituality are not necessarily opposing forces and that adopting meditative practices is not as much a religious experience as it is humanistic, allowing us to tap into feelings we may have lost along the way.

“Kids know this well,” he said. “They experience utter joy where we've lost that. We've gotten off track. Most of us have forgotten how to come back to the present moment and refresh. This type of mindfulness teaches us how to find that joy again.”

It is a topic Kerzin has given a great deal of thought to. As a medical doctor and Buddhist monk he believes we can all benefit from looking inward.

“Mindfulness encourages us to remember the good stuff, the positive ways of living,” he explained. “It's to check up and see what's happening inside right now. ‘What am I thinking? What am I feeling? And do I need to adjust my course if I'm a little bit into negativity?’ It encourages us to recognize these feelings, be mature and apply the techniques, tools and methods we've learned to move more towards the positive.”

He also speaks to the power of compassion and how it can change our lives in countless ways. It is something he practices himself. For the past 30 years, Kerzin has continued to practice medicine, without ever charging a patient for his services.

“By doing that it not only enriches my life but it also enriches the lives of those who come to me,” he said. “By genuinely being concerned for that person, you start to develop a positive relationship of caring. From that you develop trust which is often lacking in today's medicine.”

Kerzin, 74, knows most people are not going to give away their belongings or provide their services for free, but he says taking small steps towards compassion will lead to big rewards.

“Whether it's money, advice or a half a day free of your services, whatever you choose, begin to share more because that's a win-win situation,” he said. “A person who shares will not only enrich the lives of others; their own life will be greatly enhanced.”

Kerzin, founder of the Altruism in Medicine Institute, says more peer-reviewed research confirms that activities like meditation and compassion strengthen the immune system, which in turns helps the body better fight diseases like cancer and chronic illnesses related to stress.

“Providing people with tools and techniques for living healthier lives is a crucial component to aging well,” Kerzin says. “Taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and integrating them can change your life. By participating in things such as yoga, meditation, exercise, nutrition counseling and more, people will have the opportunity to truly live well, inside and out for many years to come.”