By Julian Daizan Skinner
Stress is a serious matter. The American Psychological Association links it to the western world’s six leading causes of death. In life too, it causes widespread misery, ill-health and premature ageing. For the past decade or so I’ve been running a training for meditation and mindfulness teachers. Dealing with stress is a cornerstone of our work. My own training happened in Japan, where stress contributes to suicide being the most significant cause of death for young and middle-aged men. From homeless people to Tokyo Stock Exchange executives, my teacher’s temple was a place they could all come and find respite and grow resilience.