Oftentimes, what I end up writing other people can relate to because they are also struggling with anxiety or sadness or going through a serious transformation. I have a lot of respect for Western psychology, but that’s just not my strong point. I try to express that bridge between inner work and outward harmony.Ĭan you talk a little bit about your writer’s voice and what sources you draw on in addition to Buddhism and your own experience? That’s it-it’s really just from direct experience, observations I’m making, and my Vipassana meditation practice. And through that clarity, our connections become deeper with friends and family and in intimate relationships. I found that to be the case in my own experience, as well as in that of my peers who meditate, go to therapy, or practice other forms of introspection.

This book is about what happens when you spend time getting to know and love yourself and about finding a practice: what a lot of people end up experiencing is a little more clarity. And then in 2020 when the pandemic started, I was like “Oh, I should have one of the main focuses of this book be relationships.” It felt like a natural jumping-off point from Inward, which was about individual personal transformation. I’ve been slowly writing since I released my last book in 2018. How did you settle on the themes of relationships and self-awareness? The process for this book was very slow, very intentional. Tell me about your writing process for Clarity and Connection. Tricycle recently spoke with Perez about his new book, Clarity and Connection, his pandemic practice, the challenge of connecting in a divisive era, the limitations of social media, and what comes next for him.

His writing career-and viral poems-soon followed. Goenka shortly after graduating from college and getting clean from drugs and alcohol. He began practicing Vipassana meditation as taught by S. Perez, 34, better known by his pen name, Yung Pueblo (“young people”), was born in Ecuador and grew up in Boston. Since 2013, Diego Perez has posted his poetry on his Instagram account-no fancy fonts, filters, or images of the Buddha, just simple black type on a white background.

Clarity & connection