Fire in the vicinity of Tassajara has me thinking of Abbot Steve and his wise leadership during the 2008 Basin Complex fire. I dug through my interview audio files to unearth this little Dharma gem, Abbot Steve talking about applied Zen in the realm of wildfire: "Detachment doesn't mean that you separate yourself from things." … [Read more...]
In Remembrance: Myogen Steve Stücky, March 6, 1946 – December 31, 2013
In the early morning hours of the last day of 2013, fire monk Myogen Steve Stücky left this world for the great beyond. Read more about Myogen's life here. I was tremendously fortunate to spend time with Myogen during the research and writing of Fire Monks. He was warm and encouraging from the first time we spoke. He was patient and curious and engaged my questions thoughtfully and openly. I remember sitting in the abbot's cabin at Tassajara going over the proposal before I had a contract with Penguin Press for the book. He wasn't sure about the title "fire monks"--none of … [Read more...]
Castle in a Raindrop
And I guess I should include wine in that subject line, since you can even help yourself in Sarlat-Le-Caneda, where we welcomed the wine and dry hotel room after getting completely drenched on the road. So wet my shoes were squishy. We have rain gear, but with this grande pluie it didn't matter. Dinner at the bistro across the street was delightful. We were famished, because in addition to the rain-drubbing, we had been unable to eat properly all day. One serious pleasure, and challenge, of bike touring in France is food. Riding 40 kilometers on coffee and a croissant has … [Read more...]
Sitting in the Saddle
For years I've been watching the supreme athletes of the Tour de France pedal up the passes in the Pyrenees--and been awestruck by the scenery that surrounds them. Tomorrow, I'm heading to France with my bike (and my husband) to cycle up some of those same summits. I won't be racing, but rather, basking in the natural wisdom of mountains, the pleasurable grit of a challenge, and the daily succor of French food and wine. I'll be discovering a part of France I've never been to before. I'm not sure what I'll be moved to write about yet, but I've been thinking that if bicycles … [Read more...]
What comes around comes back
Fire is in the neighborhood again at Tassajara. No surprise as there is plenty of kindling left over from the 2008 fire, and we had so little rain this winter. Updates are being posted on Tassajara Zen Mountain Center's Facebook page. Please keep Tassajara and all beings in the burn area in your protective thoughts--especially the firefighters braving the steep, dry Ventana slopes. And...more monastic fire news... Zen Mountain Center in Idyllwild was evacuated earlier this week. Sadly, homes in the area were lost, but it appears that ZMC was successfully saved by fire … [Read more...]
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