Looking Deeply
Bella, I wrote this while on retreat at Angelique’s farmhouse in the country. Wish you could have been with us to discuss Cao Ngoc Phuong’s autobiography and enjoy the cool, late summer breezes. Perry …
Category: Our Heroic and Ceaseless 24/7 Struggle against Tsuris
When Receiving Praise
Take it in Savor it Forget it
A Draft of Your First Book
Dear Ramona, Thinking of Ko Un and last week’s theme, it occurs to me that your first book could be a collection of short “meditations.” 600-900 words. Like that brilliant “Open Hands” you sent me…
Survival
Know history Make history Write history
Finding Space
“Look, I know things are strained between the two of you I’m not gonna tell you to practice metta for him— Things are too tender for that— But I will tell you what his guru…
There Is No Way to Gentleness; Gentleness Is the Way
Bella Levenshteyn Was on her scooter At the red light In front of me Her bumper sticker read: “I brake for butterflies”
Taking a Stand
“The maddest I’d ever seen him was the day he came to bail me out of jail after a peace rally at UCLA. Driving me home, he was in my face. ‘How can you do this?…
Be Light (After Reading Mary Oliver)
For Lo Ten times a day something happens to me like this—some strengthening throb of amazement—some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest, and the wisest thing I know: that…
Timing
“I am totally immersed in my work and cannot, cannot be disturbed.” Anton von Webern [Two days before Nazi troops stormed into Vienna]
An Incomplete Gathering of Maxims from M. Y. Golden
Dear Bella Levenshteyn On Monday, I was talking on the phone with Natasha, and we reminisced about her teacher, M. Y. Golden, a therapist she had respectfully nicknamed the “Wizard,” because he was so skilled…