octobre 2012

What’s a bodhisattva, anyway?

Par |2017-04-04T06:58:15+01:00octobre 15th, 2012|Textes|

In response to a question raised in a reader's comment on the previous entry, I'd like to offer an explanation of what I mean by the word "bodhisattva." Note that these words reflect my experience, and therefore they are not necessarily what a dictionary definition might say. Strictly speaking, the Sanskrit word bodhisattva means enlightenment [...]

Get what you want or get what you need?

Par |2017-04-04T06:58:15+01:00octobre 4th, 2012|Textes|

I stumbled upon this comment today, and am throwing it out there to see what others might have to say. It touches on so many issues that many of us find ourselves confronting daily - wealth, power and fame, happiness, spirituality, goals, food, clothing, leisure, livelihood, politics... Maybe we can get a discussion going here [...]

Program 2012-2013

Par |2015-10-12T16:17:37+01:00octobre 3rd, 2012|Textes|

One-day retreats (Paris)/retraites d’une journée à Paris 6 Oct. 24 Nov. 19 Jan. 16 Feb. 16 March 16 June (Bloomsday) Weekend retreats: 1-4 Nov. (Portugal) 29-31 March (Portugal) 25-28 April (Gent, Belgium) with Frank de Waele Sensei and Zen Sangha Belgium registration and information: Zen Sangha Belgium 8-12 May (France) 8-10 June (Portugal) Weeklong retreats/retraites [...]

Leonard Cohen’s imperfect perfect offering

Par |2015-10-02T15:35:51+01:00octobre 1st, 2012|Textes|

Another marvelous Leonard Cohen concert last night, and this time at the legendary Olympia theater in Paris. Today, it seems like whatever I might write about the experience here would be merely words words words. They would fail to transmit the joy of so much emotion, so much love, so much happiness and sorrow, so [...]

septembre 2012

Adrift in transition

Par |2015-10-02T15:36:08+01:00septembre 13th, 2012|Textes|

When the moment came to once again start tapping in words here, I was initially held up by some technical difficulties before finally managing to "enter" zenscribe's empty pages. Anxiety gives way to relief: The space, as it were, is still mine!!! Strange notion, but so it goes... And now weeks after the last posting [...]

juillet 2012

On retreat with you

Par |2015-10-02T15:36:28+01:00juillet 27th, 2012|Textes|

OK, heading off early tomorrow for the weeklong summer retreat in Portugal. We go there and sit together and delve into the pulling back from usual habits of our daily lives. And yet, our daily lives go on, habits or not, new habits or old... And the retreat goes on, too, whether there for a [...]

Boundless talent

Par |2015-10-02T15:36:41+01:00juillet 16th, 2012|Textes|

The other day, a fellow journalist remarked to me that my "talents" were being "wasted" because I was required to edit a text that consisted of little items about famous "people," the kind of celebrity news that is consumed like popcorn or chocolate or potato chips. I replied that it was indeed possible to see [...]

To sit or not to sit?

Par |2015-10-02T15:36:58+01:00juillet 8th, 2012|Textes|

Someone told me the other day that she/he had not been sitting lately because he/she was not doing well, because he/she was stressed and had many complications with relationships, work, everyday life. I suppose we can all recognize ourselves in that. And yet the truth is that we have the whole thing backwards. I thought [...]

« It takes as long as it takes »

Par |2015-10-02T15:37:11+01:00juillet 5th, 2012|Textes|

Today was one of those days: one "thing" after another, the timing such that I had no "down" time, as we say, except during Métro rides from one "place" to another. Awoke early, worked at the paper without stopping until I had to rush off to meet my son at the hospital, wait and wait [...]

L’heure bleue

Par |2017-04-04T06:58:15+01:00juillet 4th, 2012|Textes|

Stopping in for a visit here. What a marvelous night it is, summer thriving! It's the end of what the French call "l'heure bleue," that curious hour between sunset and the dark spread of night. So luscious! I say I'd like to have it this way all the time, but then of course if I [...]

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