Tea Meditation
Our Meditation and Mindfulness Sangha meets on the second and fourth Saturdays. This morning, Cristina led us in tea meditation. She read us the following from Thích Nhất Hạnh. You must be completely awake in…
This Christmas Season
“Appreciation is the sacrament.” –Allen Ginsberg “If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘Thank you,’ that would suffice.” –Meister Eckhart “Be grateful to everyone.” –Buddhist mind-training slogan This Christmas season I…
Spring-Watching Pavilion by Hồ Xuân Hương
A gentle spring evening arrives Airily, unclouded by worldly dust. Three times the bell tolls echoes like a wave. We see heaven upside-down in sad puddles. Love’s vast sea cannot be emptied. And springs of…
Sitting Idle at the North Window by Po Chü-i
The window empty: two thickets of bamboo. The house tranquil: a single fragrant stove. Beyond the gate, it’s red dust everywhere, and in the city, that white sun hurries on, but I don’t chase after…
Dear Monseñor
Last week in Writing to Wake Up, a topic proposed was: “Write a letter to someone (in)famous in history, someone really dastardly, or someone really inspiring.” Dear Monseñor You were right You were/are resurrected…
The One Contains the All
There are pictures that stay in the memory as if carved with a fine chisel. Of the thousands of demolished homes I remember one house in Silwad. Of the hundreds of torture victims I see…
Checkpoint/3 (Life under Occupation/5)
The following is adapted from IDF soldier, Liran Ron Furer, Checkpoint Syndrome I ran toward them and punched an Arab right in the face I’d never punched anyone that way He collapsed on the road…
Daydream/1 (Jesus/1 [Touching a Nerve/2])
A man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher of goodness, teach me something that you know and I do not, that benefits me and does you no harm.” Jesus asked, “What would that be?” The…
Litany/2 (¡Presente!)
The following was near the end in the original version of The Book of Mev. Ignacio Ellacuría, engaged intellectual, credible witness, Fearless announcer of God’s Kingdom . . . ¡Presente! Ordinary eco-friendly folk, hallowers of…
If Only It Were So
6 North Coffee Corner of Sarah and Laclede Coming in from a windy day Sitting in a booth Magan Wiles across from me Our eyes meet The wheels start turning The words come tumbling