Bella Levenshteyn’s Jewish Litany
Dear Shimmelstoy I’ve been thinking about our last conversation And while I have some sympathy For those who agonize about Jewish identity For me anyway it’s gotten clearer In these past few years Thank you…
Does the Buddha Smile in Hell?
Does the Buddha smile in hell? Many devoted practitioners would immediately say “Yes, of course, he is the Buddha after all” Equanimity Detachment Vast knowledge of the chain of cause and effect Would he smile as…
Mark Chmiel is Made of Non-Mark Chmiel Elements
Thich Nhat Hanh teaches out of the Buddhist tradition: There is no separate self capable of existing on its own One thing is connected to so much else The sheet of paper is made of…
Passing through Boca Raton and Joining the Buddhist Sangha for an Evening
This Jewish-looking Buddhist Serenely sitting seven feet away from me Her long braided black hair a mindful marvel and work of art Her half-smile that could make Thich Nhat Hanh himself weak in the knees…
Questions about the War Dead
When the statisticians in the Armed Services Tally up the war dead- Most recently In Iraq and Afghanistan- Do they include The veterans who commit suicide In country or back at home? How long in…
What You Won’t Read in USA Today
Yesterday I noticed a headline from USA Today: “In Israel, staying alert for terror is a way of life” The article was one in a series On the Boston Marathon explosions Don’t expect anytime soon…
What Should Be Boldly Engraved in Stone at the New George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas
A Mighty Fortress Is Our Lie
Miss Lonely & Napoleon in Rags
Dear Shimmelstoy Whew! I’ve never done anything Like what we did tonight I can’t believe you actually just showed up (Do you go on excursions like this with everyone?) IT HAD NEVER OCCURRED TO ME…
After Last Night’s Bhagavad Gita Discussion
Daniel Berrigan once said to us About trying to lead a nonviolent life: “We do it because it’s the right thing to do Not because it’s going to get us anywhere” How deeply this cuts…
Right down to the Bone
They had to be college graduates Upwardly mobile If you’ve got a problem They’ll find the solution That’s their business Overcoming obstacles Given our implacable enemies There’s no lollygagging This is serious business A U.S….