10% Happier with Dan Harris Buddhist Strategies for Protecting Yourself from Everyday Chaos | Bart van Melik
22 snips
Jan 11, 2026 
Bart van Melik, a Meditation and Dharma teacher with a rich journey from the Netherlands to teaching meditation in juvenile detention, shares invaluable insights. He discusses the crucial difference between being mindful and recognizing your awareness, particularly in tense parenting moments. Bart reveals how awareness acts as a protective mechanism, the importance of saying 'no' without aversion, and how children often serve as our toughest Zen teachers. His practical tips and teachings encourage embracing change and making space for clearer responses in chaotic situations.
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From Thailand Temple To Teaching In Juvie
- Bart van Melik describes stumbling into meditation in Thailand and feeling a homecoming when he "knew that I'm aware."
- He then taught meditation in New York juvenile facilities where kids bluntly told him his sessions were "lit."
Meta‑Awareness Feels Like Protection
- Knowing that you are aware is different from merely being aware of sensations or thoughts.
- That meta-awareness feels like a protective, spacious resting place that increases presence and choice.
Kids As Fierce Zen Teachers
- Bart names his son Lou as a fierce Zen teacher who pushes his buttons and reveals his reactivity.
- When Bart remembers awareness, he responds more creatively and keeps more harmony in the relationship.
