Carlo Giambarresi

I know that you know you’re being watched. But I’m not sure you realize the extent of it, or its implications. Hundreds of corporations that you’ve never heard of, as well as many governments around the world, are surveilling you. They know who you sleep with because both you and the person you share your bed with keep your phones nearby. They know whether you sleep soundly at night or whether your troubles are keeping you up.

Legend tells us that Chan Buddhism began in India, specifically when the Buddha transmitted his true dharma to one and only one disciple, Mahakashyapa. History, however, tells us a different story, namely that Chan originated in China some time around the 6th century. Over time, the Chan school spread throughout most of the Chinese sphere of cultural influence—to Korea, Vietnam, and of course Japan, and it is by its Japanese name, Zen, that Westerners recognize it best.

Earlier this year, sushi fanatics got some disheartening news: Environmentalists were petitioning to have the Pacific bluefin tuna considered for endangered species protection, a move that would keep the popular delicacy off high-end menus across the United States. Fishermen had nearly exhausted the species to meet consumer demand, pulling 97 percent of the tuna out of the water and onto our plates.