Ten years ago, in October 2004, the first seeds of our Wild Flower Zen community in Portugal were planted when the Porto Buddhist Union invited my teacher, Roshi Catherine Genno Pagès, to visit for the first time. I accompanied Genno Roshi for that ground-breaking trip, and have since returned alone to Portugal year after year, [...]
It's been days since my last entry. Nothing special to note here tonight except this, which came to me via email, among a variety of "inspirational" quotes, and I couldn't let it slip away without sharing it with my zenscribe friends: Generosity is the ornament of the world. Through generosity, one turns back from the [...]
Feb. 2 is so many things for so many people: an ancient pagan day of celebrating light, as the days begin to grow longer after winter's long darkness; a Christian day of celebrating Christ's "presentation to the temple;" a French festive day marked by making crêpes; Groundhog Day in America, which is another version of [...]
Sad day: The indefatigable songman and peace activist Pete Seeger died today, at the age of 94. He was a national treasure for all those Americans who stood up and spoke out, who refused to let the country pursue its hateful ways of war and oppression. His banjo was decorated with the message: "This machine [...]
There was a hazy moon in the dark sky tonight. I noticed it earlier this evening when I was returning home after a day at work. And I saw it last night, too. But each time, when I checked for it later, the haze was nowhere to be seen. Only a brilliant moon remained. All [...]
Back at work and other activities this week after the traditional holiday "break.'' Seems a bit strange, like I've been away for a long while, and strangely just the same, as if I've never left. I guess the truth is that both are true... I've also been thinking how lucky I am to have "activities" [...]
As 2013 has come to a close and we enter 2014, it's a great moment to remind ourselves where we have been and also to look clearly at where we are: at both an end and a beginning. Think of a circle, which is both a completion (2013 is complete) and a renewal (a new [...]
Fog started rolling in last night, hovering along our street as my son and I returned late from a Thanksgiving feast. He noted the odd brilliance it cast, affording a seemingly incongruous clarity to the briskly chilly night lit only by street lamps. We were filled to the brim with autumn's singular pleasures. And most [...]
2014 (spring and summer) multi-day retreats with the Wild Flower Zen Sangha and Sensei Amy Hollowell: April 17-21, Portugal (with special guest Roshi Catherine Genno Pagès) May 9-16, Belgium (co-led with Sensei Frank de Waele and Sensei Corrine Frottier) July 26-Aug. 2, Portugal for information about retreats and registration: info@wildflowerzen.org
