Walking the Eightfold Path through mindfulness, modern life, and the spaces between.

I'm Dan Arel — Communications leader, writer, father, and Buddhist exploring leadership, mindfulness, labor, and the work of living with more clarity and compassion.


Author of Parenting without God and The Secular Activist.

What I write about

four threads, one practice

What inspires the path

The teachings, teachers, and moments that keep pulling me back, the ones that still feel worth studying, practicing, and returning to.

Practice in daily life

Parenting, work, relationships, and the ordinary noise of life, where mindfulness has to hold up outside the cushion.

Buddhism and modern life

How old teachings speak to contemporary life, from attention and technology to the habits that shape how we live now.

Writing and reflection

Thinking out loud, making sense of what I’m learning, and using writing as a way to pay closer attention.

Newsletter

latest from Substack

Rebirth for the Skeptic

You don't have to believe in literal rebirth for the concept to mean something. A secular reading of one of Buddhism's most contested ideas.

July 13, 2026

Buddhism Gave Me Ground When I Needed It Most

When everything felt unstable, I didn't find solid ground in certainty — I found it in practice. What that actually looked like.

June 29, 2026

My first half-day meditation retreat

Attending my first meditation retreat opened my eyes to my strengths, weaknesses, and goals.

July 6, 2026

Read all posts on Substack →

Books

written by me

I'm the author of Parenting without God and The Secular Activist.

See both books →

Books I Have Read

I try and track the books I finish — right now it's mostly Buddhist and contemplative, with leadership and politics mixed in.

View the full reading log →