Author: Mark J. Chmiel

To Do List/73

To cling not to the horrible (“Ach, my suffering, it’s so terrible… Have I told you about it this week?”) To cling not to the beautiful (“Damn! That takes my breath away!”) To light my…

Dipa Ma

We are so fortunate to be alive at this time, so many teachers to learn with and from. Here’s one: Dipa Ma who was born in East Bengal, lived for years in Burma, and spent…

SLU Is

SLU is Tony Albrecht (Law, 2009) SLU is Josh Aranda (A & S, 2009) SLU is Laura Aranda (A & S, 2010) SLU is 783 Facebook friends SLU is 14 years of life SLU is…

Dear Mark

Dear Mark, Here is my reflection of Dear Layla, I thought at first that I should apologize for the scatter-brained style of writing I’m sure this letter will take. Then I thought, he probably doesn’t…

A Poem by Charles Reznikoff

My grandmother in her old age Sold barley and groats at a stall In the market place. She did not measure her cereal More carefully Than I must minutes. — The Poems Of Charles Reznikoff:…

Now/here Man

You said, “I don’t seem to fit anywhere” I can relate to that— Fourteen years teaching at the university as a statusless adjunct No tenure No bulging curriculum vitae full of books, articles, papers, conferences,…

Continuation

This morning, we shared the following  reflection after meditation. Someone asked Thich Nhat Hanh: “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader with the ability and the knowledge to truly transform the world into a…