Category Archives: Zen

The Jewel in the Lotus —

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Touch2Touch

Anyone who’s flirted even mildly with Tibetan Buddhism knows this mantra for chanting: Om mani padme hum. What does it mean? “Hail, The Jewel is in the Lotus.” But what does that mean? Even though I’ve chanted it myself (although I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Buddha, Etcetera, Flowers, Japan, Pioneer Valley, Wisdom, Wonderings, Zen | Tagged , , , , | 39 Comments

On Memorial Day —

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Touch2Touch

It’s Memorial Day weekend, formerly called Decoration Day, because of the still-observed custom of decorating graves, especially of those who served in the armed forces, with flowers and American flags. Died in battle — or at any rate, once struggled … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera, Life and Death, Memory, Poetry, Zen | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

No “There” There?

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Touch2Touch

Coming up dry for ideas, I had invited three improv challenges from blog viewers and received them in short order. My first two responses were On NOT Borrowing Trouble and Taking the Plunge. (As always, readers’ comments go beyond my posts … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions, Etcetera, Flowers, Personal Essay, Quotes, Writers, Zen | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

Taking the Plunge —

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Touch2Touch

Joss of  Crowing Crone offered as the second challenge for my  “coming-unstuck” improv session these words from Martin Luther King, the formidable civil rights leader and activist: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step.” The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenge, Etcetera, Quotes, Zen | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

ARE YOU AN EXPERT?

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Touch2Touch

Socrates was famous for, among other things, saying Gnothi Seauton. (He said it in Greek, because he was. If you are not, you may recognize it quicker as “Know Thyself.”) Recently John Weeren, in his always-interesting blog, About Zen, posted … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenge, Etcetera, Quotes, Wisdom, Zen | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

The Mountains Touch the Clouds

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Touch2Touch

In a world where multi-tasking is a goal and priority, where we twitter unceasing to the empty air, where our lives are open Facebooks and if we are not busy from morning until night we become disoriented, it is profoundly … Continue reading →

Posted in Desert, Etcetera, Mindfulness, Poetry, Quotes, Wisdom, Writers, Zen | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The Necessary Journey —

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Touch2Touch

We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us, or spare us.  Marcel Proust (No guides. No itinerary. No reservations. And where the path will lead, we cannot know … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera, Japan, Mindfulness, Photography, Quotes, Wisdom, Zen | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Buddhas — and Ordinary People

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Touch2Touch

As one particle of dust contains thousands of sutras, so the wisdom of all Buddhas is complete in the bodies of ordinary people who do not realize it. (Found on the always-provocative blog of David Elpern, Cell2Soul, under his title, … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddha, Doubt, Enlightenment, Etcetera, Quotes, Wisdom, Wonderings, Zen | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Enlightenment?

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Touch2Touch

Here’s another light to shine on the previous post, In Praise of Doubt. The conversation unfolding in the comments is lively, varied, and well worth eavesdropping on. Maybe you’d even like to to join in? Meanwhile, Roshi Kennedy’s perspective on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Doubt, Enlightenment, Etcetera, Mindfulness, Quotes, Wisdom, Zen | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Paradox, Now In Plain English —-

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Touch2Touch

Something’s been bothering me about my previous post — I think I haven’t been clear and direct enough. The post isn’t about the quote — nor is it really about spices. It’s about the grabbing and grasping and selfishness that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Photography, Quotes, Wisdom, Zen | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments