Two Books I Finished Reading Today
A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life [A commentary on Shantideva’s great manual], by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We Were in Auschwitz / 6643…
Author: Mark J. Chmiel
Dirda on Proust
Dear CK Michael Dirda is one of my favorite bibliophiles. I have several of his books, which, like Mustich‘s tome, I regularly browse in utmost delight. This morning in his Bound to Please, I came…
For ZG
Poetry as no big dealPoetry in 2 1/2 minutesPoetry to send to yr maPoetry as an escape into realityPoetry the realest it getsPoetry better than falling in lovePoetry the universal tribePoetry made of tears of…
Not Flustered, Not Melancholy, Not Anxious
James Laughlin, Ezra Pound’s publisher, observed that “Pound’s translations of Confucian texts, beautiful as is their language, are seldom applauded by Sinologues.” But we common readers may appreciate such versions from the Analects, when they…
This Month’s Header Photo: Oyster Dome Trail
My friend Cami Kasmerchak shared the photo above. Check out her website and Instagram!
Making Everyone Happy
Melita Maschmann, Encountering Bliss: My Journey through India with Ānandamayī MāDelhi : Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2002 It is as difficult to escape the grace of a Guru, as the revenge of a tiger.Indian proverb Last…
Spinoza Sees into the Future When Twitter Reigns
“The love of esteem [Gloria] which is called empty [vana] is acquiescentia in se ipso that is encouraged only by the opinion of the multitude. When that ceases, the acquiescentia in se ipso ceases, i.e….
Becoming a Mensch
Alan Morinis, Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: One Man’s Journey to Rediscover a Jewish Spiritual TraditionTrumpeter, 2002 Alan Morinis offers an engaging account of how he came to re-order his life according to the Jewish practice of…
Share the Wealth: Remembering Syria by Sana Aslam
In my Comparative Religion and Culture class, I asked students to write a personal spirituality paper. I invite you to read and discuss with us the following reflection from Sana Aslam. Join usSunday 12 December7…
A Small Part in the Cosmic Play
Mukunda: In the Iyrics to that song “Awaiting on You All,” from the All Things Must Pass album, you come right out front and tell people that they can be free from living in the…