Having been traveling back and forth across an ocean and continents in past weeks, I've had a good opportunity to expand my direct experience of the world beyond my usual parameters. As ever, all that I needed to do was pay attention to and open to whatever was before me, wherever I found myself. Because [...]
With these few modest words, I offer each of you my wishes as big as the world for a bountiful coming year, moment to moment, wherever you go, whatever you do. Ringing in the new year, ringing out the old, may we start over again and again - all together, leaving no one behind - [...]
A family member in America tells me that the U.S. media is in a frenzy over the country's latest shooting massacre, in which 20 young children were riddled with dozens and dozens of bullets from a semiautomatic rifle on Friday at their school. I'm not surprised: I am a journalist, after all, and American-born, although [...]
Days are growing shorter and colder here as December deepens. I find myself doing the same, slowing with the slowing down, turning with the turning to the deep that lies inward. A few days ago (Sunday) was the day that in the Zen tradition we celebrate as the day of the historic Buddha's awakening. You [...]
Second day of a new month, a week after my last post, night falling in Paris: So it goes. I want to officially thank all those who sent me birthday greetings yesterday. You made my day! Meanwhile, a lazy Sunday. Read all the daily newspapers that were available. Yet now as I sit at my [...]
No time until now to post here a Day IV "vehicle" (or perhaps "container" is a better word?) for today's flow of comments. At first, that seems like a problem: I'm not keeping up with the pace of the day, I'm leaving the participants without a space to share their experience. But then I think: [...]
Quick notes from the top of the morning... Occupied by a sore leg, mental agitation, differences of opinion, strife in Gaza and in little corners of myself, and then suddenly word that a baby has been born to friends, a girl, earlier than expected but all is well. The father says he is the "happiest [...]
With the first flickers of light in my eyes this morning, I begin my meditation by acknowledging all those with whom I share this retreat week. There are all those who have sent email confirming their presence. There are those with whom I sat last night. There are those in the house with me at [...]
"A Retreat in the Heart of Life" (Retraite au Coeur de la Vie) Date: Nov. 19-24 Place: Wherever you are Wherever you are, life is there! How could Zen practice be anywhere else? Take a plunge into the heart of your life just as it is. This is a superb opportunity to live Zen practice [...]
It sometimes seems like such a mad, mad world: economics, politics, athletics, entertainment, disease, birth, death, natural disaster, cruelty, war, love, distraction, waste, abundance... My own life has all of that in varying doses, shifting unseen moment to moment. There may be laughter or tears or something in between, and then the opposite or something [...]
