Books Inspected This Afternoon

Arthur Waley, Confucius: Analects Kenneth Rexroth, Classics Revisited Ezra Pound, New Selected Poems and Translations Ai Weiwei and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Ai Weiwei Speaks David Hinton, The Selected Poems of Tu Fu  Ezra Pound, Confucius:…

On Twitter, Be Grateful to Everyone

If I can learn from all those in the world who criticize me and thereby improve myself, they will all be polishing and correcting me. In that case, everywhere is the opportunity for me to…

DIY/4

In short, the Taoists eliminated the usual basis for religion. The ultimate justification for spirituality was not in the promise of an afterlife, not in the gods, not in ritual, and not in clerical authority,…

Senseless Kindness

Yes, as well as this terrible Good with a capital ‘G’, there is every day human kindness. The kindness of an old woman carrying a piece of bread to a prisoner, the kindness of a…

By Little and Little

One makes a better world by what Dostoevsky liked to call “microscopic actions.” When you walk down the street, Zossima tells the other monks, don’t scowl. A kindly look can shift a person’s mood and…

The Radiant Ones

My friend of forty years Pat Geier introduced me to the British Buddhist teacher Christina Feldman. After listening to and discussing some of her retreat talks at Dharma Seed, we are beginning to discuss her…

Take Charge

Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it.  JOHNSON:  “I have looked into it.”  “What (said Elphinston) have you not read it through?” …