According to Wikipedia, on this day in 1969 “at a zebra crossing in London, photographer Iain Macmillan takes the photo that becomes the cover of the Beatles album Abbey Road, one of the most famous album covers in recording history.” Not the version from the album, but… Read more

A wonderful, hard seven days. We sat, shared jukai with five, sat, ordained a priest, sat, did litugy, sat, did interviews, sat, ate, sat, worked, sat, slept, and sat… Ironically, no photos of zazen. But, here are a few from moments throughout our time together… (click on the last picture for the full view…) Read more

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but this is just about my favorite week of the year. Once again, Jan & I pack up our zafus and head out to the Worcester temple for sesshin, leaving auntie in charge of the cats, birds & fish. (God help ’em…) Looking forward to some serious practice with some old friends and new. If you haven’t been to the temple, here is a nice view of the grounds with a comment from one of... Read more

A lovely, very, very British opening for the Olympics… Loved the Queen’s acting debut. And never a miss to see Mr Bean. And a pause. With all the difficulties that perennially haunt the Olympics, the politics, the costs and difficulties for the host country and city, the slights, the botched opportunities, the list goes on – with all of that, nonetheless, a celebration of the human spirit. Youth. Striving. Courage. And throughout dreams of possibility. A good thing… Read more

Book Review James Ishmael Ford’s If You’re Lucky Your Heart Will Break: Field Notes from a Zen Life By Catherine Senghas This book “had” me already at the title. Perhaps you have heard the oft-quoted story wherein a Zen master holds up a glass and says that he sees this glass as already broken, and thus enjoys it incredibly and appreciates its preciousness all the more. For many this story helps fend off the tendency to put precious things away,... Read more

Keith Richards once said of Mick Jagger that “He’s a nice bunch of guys.” Today is all of the various Micks birthday! And, I wish them many more to come… Read more

The subject tonight is Love And for tomorrow night as well, As a matter of fact I know of no better topic For us to discuss Until we all Die! Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladinsky) Read more

Bob Eberly was born on this day in 1916. He was often paired with Helen O’Connell, and they both sang with Tommy Dorsey, like this… Read more

Tafari Makonnen was born on this day in 1892. In 1930 would assume the throne of Ethiopia as the Emperor Haile Selassie I. Through the vagaries of mysterious karma, and possibly at least in part to the royal family’s claim to be descendent from the biblical Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, he would find a lasting place in religions as a central figure in the Rastafarian movement. Mildly ironic, of course, as he remained an Oriental Orthodox Christian for... Read more

I gave Josh Bartok, Keido Mu’nen Sensei, Dharma transmission within the Soto stream of Zen Buddhism at midnight on Friday the 20th of July. These pictures are from the public celebration the next day. Read more