Category: Dharma Journal

Nature, Painting

The Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is the most visited area of the park, but these days I think it is only because the hills have that ‘selfie...

What Are You Doing?

I look out the front window of our home and notice some kids walking home from school. A young boy, toting a backpack nearly as large as he is, stares down at his smart...

Dying from Embarrassment?

Mark Twain noted that humans are the only animals that blush. Or need to. As I work with shovel and pickax to remove more water sucking sod from our front yard, I think about...

What to Keep

Many years ago I took a class from a Japanese man who built houses in the old style—no screws, no nails, only precise wood to wood joinery made with hand tools. I was offered...

The Heart of Cursive

I received two hand-written notes in the ‘snail’ mail this week. I was overwhelmed by emotion. It has been a long time since I received an analog letter. The felt hand of cursive flowing...

It’s Snow Wonder

The clear cornflower-blue sky on this crisp spring morning stands in stark contrast to last night’s blizzard. A few inches of sun-illuminated white stuff blankets the landscape. Mini-crystals reflect light like so many diamonds...

Sanitized Dharma

I read an article concerning the long term effects of the Covid pandemic on society. One side effect of social isolation seems to be a significant uptick in cases of unruly behavior on airplanes,...

Trees, Tea, and Emptiness

I am sitting at a rustic table, its surface made from rough-hewn boards with saw marks clearly visible. I have a vision of the time when the tree was felled. The sky on that...

The Flame Inside Pain

When I look into the eyes Of one who suffers One who feels lost and helpless One who simply seeks peace When I look into those eyes Beholding pain without hope And see my...

War No More

Samsara is very predictable. Through repetitive cycles of war, no wars have ever brought enduring peace. This is because the mind that thinks war is an answer to unhappiness is the source of all...