december retreat 2023 bali it rained heavily the morning of our last day of retreat in december. i was in a contemplative mood, not surprising given the stillness and silence and the many hours of sitting during the week. the downpours were compelling. i wrote the lines below when it struck me that the common expression; it is raining outside, was no longer the experienced reality of that moment as i could no longer say something is happening outside for it no longer felt th

candi dasa, bali, november twenty-three " as one side is illumined, the other is darkened. - master dogen" sunday you are vast and without limit your midnights unstoppable you are of time true yet released by time sound of waves breaking on the reefs out of the ocean's breath to just be this succession of what arises and falls this bottomless blue where shadows play with the breeze supreme messenger our sole remembrance of earth blowing us to the far and near

silent retreat october twenty twenty-three monchique * no entry no exit point to silence enter or leave it you cannot * in the midst of noise it never leaves you it is what carries you wherever you go * it is what carries along everything unnoticed unheard in a silent way * in the midst of silence we are forgetful of it lest we listen to raindrops pattering on the roof to a crow’s cawing as it flies over treetops on hillside slopes * forgetful of it though it indwells the dee

curtains drawn from the paddies sunlight pouring in cicadas screeching pouring in inside no one outside no one the dweller left his: nowhere a dwelling will you find in praise in waves golden to no end pouring in

orange moon sailed-off before i came to the river to watch the boats light begins to turn time to prepare for fall love of summer your glitters down to the sea you go Jisei, or death poem, is a genre of poetry established since the early days of Zen where the author, usually a monk or practitioner, would offer their reflection on death when the encounter with it seemed imminent but more broadly would express an understanding or worldview informed by Buddhist teachings; a sent