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Healing Society Through Our Relationships

Have you ever sat in silent meditation, focused on the breath, and wondered, how does this practice help dismantle oppression and make the world an equitable place for all? I know I have. Especially these days of so much loss, infuriation, uncertainty... Read more

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Both Sides Now

Recently I took part in a process to settle an ethical matter. I saw how easy it is to see things from one way; how easy it is to objectify and blame someone who makes a harmful mistake; how easy it is to fall into knowing certainty and self-righteous... Read more

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Disentangling Desire

“I’m not available for that”, he said. We were sitting in his car outside my apartment, talking about desire. What I wanted, and what he wanted (or in this case didn’t). We’d been dating for a few months, and I could feel the longing in me growing - f... Read more

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Special Graduation

In a time of polarization and divisiveness, plus the on-going crises of fires, economic and racial injustice, and pandemic, there are bright rays of hope - people building a future of respect, dignity, generosity, love and understanding in a thous... Read more

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No Form – Just Thank You

I changed five nouns in this poem for us, for now: Thanks, from W. S. Merwin. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t mind a bit. It reminds me of Zen teacher Yvonne Rand’s last audible words before she passed away Wednesday evening: “No form - Just thank you” L... Read more

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Listening with the EAR

Perhaps like many of you, I grew up in a family that could have benefited from having an EAR Council to hear grievances, but did not. Our InsightLA family is fortunate to have a group of elders dedicated to listening with empathy and compassion, a... Read more

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Farewell, Yvonne

Monday I learned that Yvonne Rand, one of my teachers in this life, has entered hospice to do her dying. An accomplished Soto Zen priest, Yvonne came to teach with me at InsightLA in the early days. Yvonne has lived a life that has given so much to so... Read more

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A Treasure, Like Kelp

The ocean has been cold again this week, good weather for the kelp! Did you know that in in ideal conditions kelp can grow from 12 inches to 18 inches in one day? Did you know kelp stores carbon as efficiently as tropical rainforests? The kelp in the ... Read more

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The Dalai Lama’s Koan

Decades ago in the 70’s, before the Dalai Lama became famous, his smiling face was on the cover of a newspaper called The Snow Lion. The quote under his photo struck me so powerfully that I cut out the cover page and stuck it on a kitchen cupboard whe... Read more

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Learning How to Be Together

When I was seven years old, I started an organization called the California Girls’ Club. The club’s vision was mainly that I would be President of it. I made my best friend Sarah VP, and promptly decided our three other friends had to apply to join. A... Read more