Category: Correspondence

What Matters

for Lizzie Corcoran Another school year comes to an end We blink a coupla times Nine months go by I read Diane di Prima’s words On Suzuki Roshi And am reminded of what matters Not…

Revision

The poet W. H. Auden said “The funniest and kindest of mortals Are those who are most aware of the baffle of being” (A friend named Rex used this quotation In an inscription to me…

The Glory of Ordinary

There we sat at Cafe Ventana Two hours on a Thursday afternoon You heard my shtick about “Be average” My neurotic update on Dear Layla Your serenity (so it seems to me) About your future…

Taking Sides

Carol, you posted, “Alas, Mark, must we always ‘Take sides’–or is there a middle way?” You know the Buddha would say there’s a middle way, for sure. You saw what Dom Pedro did, no “ifs,…

Sumud

A Message from Dr. Zeina Kiblawi: Finally made it to our hotel, after a 7 hour detainment and repeated (insulting and meaningless) interrogations at Tel Aviv airport. Apparently, the desire to help Palestinian neonates is…

The Work Is Never Done

Dear Abbie and Liz, Given your love for theology, I thought I’d share the following reflections on someone you should at least be acquainted with.  His name is Helder Camara, former archbishop of Recife, Brazil…

Gratitude

Sometimes you encounter people who are so pure, beautiful, and content. They give you the impression that they are divine, that they are actually saints or holy beings. What you perceive in them is their…