oldmonk
Blog URL http://kissing.wordpress.com
Located Victoria, British Columbia Canada
Tags zen, hospice, end of life, mindfulness, buddhist practice, precepts, awakening, being of service
almost daily observations about living a ethical life in the context of hospice work, zen practice, curiosity, sensuality, and life-long learning.
Latest Blog Posts
- cultivating mercy for yourself on Nov 20, 2009 in Buddhist practice Zen teachings bearing witness grieving psycho-spiritual development compassion empathy grief loss sorrow Stephen Levine
In a letter of reference, a former teacher wrote that “at times he is too emotional.” Can’t be sure what was meant by that, nor what the anonymous reader will make of it. I do know that I react with emotion to everyday events. Th...
- cultivate mercy for yourself on Nov 20, 2009 in Buddhist practice Zen teachings bearing witness grieving psycho-spiritual development compassion empathy grief loss sorrow Stephen Levine
In a recent letter of reference, a former teacher wrote that I can at time be ”too emotional.” Can’t be sure what was meant by that, nor what anonymous readers would make of it. I do know that I react with emotion to everyday ev...
- be silent for a while on Nov 19, 2009 in conscious living meditating meditation Quaker meeting silence
Several times a year, for a decade now, I go somewhere to be silent with others. There is a magic of being alone in community, to retreat. Few words, no eye contact, no touching, no polite gestures; just being together, meditating, eating, working, c...
- go silent for a little while on Nov 19, 2009 in conscious living meditating meditation Quaker meeting silence
Several times a year, for a decade now, I go somewhere to be silent with others. There is a magic of being alone in community, to retreat. Few words, no eye contact, no touching, no polite gestures; just being together, meditating, eating, working, c...
- don’t even wait on Nov 17, 2009 in conscious living meditating Franz Kafka
You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait. Do not even wait, be still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice. It will roll in ecstasy...
- stop fussing! on Nov 16, 2009 in bearing witness being of service end-of-life care cancer helping and serving home care volunteering
My paid job at hospice ended two weeks ago and for the weeks leading up to it, and the one after that, I was at a loss as to how I’d continue doing the work I’m called to do. Funny thing how what we look for is (often) right in front of u...
- hungry for what? on Nov 15, 2009 in Buddhist practice bearing witness conscious living mindfulness psycho-spiritual development 24-hour fast attachment Chozen Bays clinging heart hunger hunger mindful eating
Following this morning’s meditation (with five other lovely beings at my house) I found an email query from a friend: Are you hungry? (see yesterday’s post). I feel hungry, yes, missing the habitual toast, croissant, or porridge. For me,...
