See some of my recent writing in the special France issue of the online magazine ekleksographia: http://ekleksographia.ahadadabooks.com/france/ And as long as we're at it, also online, although less recent: http://connaissances.blogspot.com/2008/01/bosquet.html
It might be in the rain that comes scattered lightly at moments and at others full, direct, as if in a linear flow, or in the sun that is known by absence these autumn days. Or in chatter among strangers on the crowded morning train. Or in multi-colored balloons strung along a café facade in [...]
The weekend newspapers are full of words, stories, images, reflections, conventions, stereotypes, observations, almost everything that can be said fast. After all, journalism is called "literature in a hurry." Much of it has already been "overtaken" by events before it's even printed. Wasn't it the Stones who sang, "Who wants yesterday's paper?" And speaking of [...]
It's wild "out there" tonight, fierce, icy wind whipping up rain and rousing the trees. Wild? As in out of control? Not tame? Free? Reminds me of a Zen story: A student asks a master: "All wild thoughts of mundane passions are hard to subdue; how can they be quieted?" The master replies: "Thinking of [...]
Two podcasts of teachings from the autumn retreat in Portugal, Oct. 29-Nov.1, are now available on the Wild Flower Portugal site: http://sanghazenpt.wordpress.com/
Strikes keep on going on in France. And we all keep on going on with daily life, too, amid the strikes and protests and governmental scolds and babble. Saturday was another national strike day. Arriving at the Opéra Bastille in the driving night rain, we learn that, because of a strike by some personnel, the [...]
Rainy Saturday afternoon during which I learn to repair a sitting cushion thanks to the kind guidance of a colleague/friend amateur seamstress who has stopped by with that purpose in mind. Quiet seems to fill the house, the garden, our talk, the cat curled on the back of the couch before the bay window. There's [...]
Back again from retreat in Portugal. Orange trees were bearing early fruit in the cloister that we rounded to and from sitting, over and over, around and around. We sat together, wind and rain whipping fierce outside, clouds hanging thick and heavy, then unexpectedly autumn light was cast pale yellow with shadows on the floor. [...]
ZEN ART Opening to the art of life a workshop with Amy Hollowell Sensei, poet and founder of the Wild Flower Zen Sangha Nov. 27-28 Paris Saturday: 14h-18 Sunday: 9h30-18h 75€ (85€ for registration after Nov. 10) (in French and English) Zen art is simply the expression of our natural presence, here and now. Starting [...]
In my inbox, an email from the Centre Pompidou promoting a coming dance performance. The title intrigues: "Nos Solitudes" (Our Solitudes). So I read on: "Chute perpétuelle ou travail sur l'envol, Nos solitudes de la chorégraphe Julie Nioche met en scène un corps en suspension retenu dans les airs par des liens multiples qui tissent [...]