Recently, I was late coming home from the gym.
My roommates were concerned, and left a message on my voicemail to the effect of,
"We're worried that you may have fallen asleep under a dick tree."

When I returned home, we all joked about the dick tree being a place to obtain enlightenment, much as the Buddha obtained enlightenment under the bodhi tree. My roommates, Nick and Katy are a nice young couple, 30 years old. He's a musician and she's a dancer. They have a 7 month-old ba... read more

It was then that the fox appeared. "good morning" said the fox.

"Good morning" the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.

"I am right here" the voice said, "under the apple tree."

"Who are you?" asked the little prince, and added, "You are very pretty to look at."

"I am a fox", the fox said.

"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince, "I am so unhappy."

"I cannot play with you," the fox said, "I am not tamed."

"Ah please ... read more

Jeez! Friday night, and I'm tense all over! My shoulders and neck are so tight that I'm fighting to keep my ears free of my shoulders!

Anybody wonder why nurses burn out? It's not the being pissed on, being puked on, or having communicably sick uncontrollable kids spit Tylenol in your eyes. It's not the smells, or the lesions, or the doing stuff to people that makes them cry or makes them angry. It's the system, and it's the administration... It's the top-down structure of so many bo... read more

I think about this poem a lot, in the context of all sentient beings, but also often at work as a nurse...

AFTER THE MEDITATION

“Now I see something in my listeners
that won't let me continue this way.
The ocean flows back in
and puts up a foam barrier,

After a while,
it will come in again.

This audience wants to hear more
about the visiting sufi and his friends
in meditation. But be discerning.

Don't think of this as a normal c... read more

Here is a poem my one of my favorite Zen teachers. I often think of it in the context of meditation practice.

FROGLESSNESS

The first fruition of the practice
is the attainment of froglessness.

When a frog is put
on the center of a plate,
she will jump out of the plate
after just a few seconds.

If you put the frog back again
on the center of the plate,
she will again jump out.

You have so many plans.
There is something you want to become.
Therefore you always want to ma... read more