In late December of 2024, Lion's Roar published this tribute I wrote to the late abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center, Hozan Alan Senauke. For twenty years, Hozan was a teacher, friend, and inspiration to me. He opened doors--literal ones and the passageways of the mind. I'll be forever grateful. … [Read more...]
Patience, Playfulness, & the Practice of Care
A Q&A with fire monk Mako Voelkel It’s been nearly a dozen years since Mako Voelkel stood on the Overlook Trail above Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and saw the Basin Complex Fire pouring into the valley. These days, Mako is head teacher at Austin Zen Center. When I caught up with her one recent afternoon on FaceTime, I reminded her that she once told me she just might leave the monastery to go to medical school. Clearly that didn’t happen. “Not yet!” she pointed out, laughing in dappled sunlight in her backyard. The few moments of hilarity in … [Read more...]
Op-ed in the Monterey Herald
Read my August 20 opinion piece in The Monterey Herald about why history doesn't have to repeat itself as the Soberanes Fire burns towards Tassajara. Photo by Mako Voelkel … [Read more...]
Soberanes Fire, August 6, 2016 Update
Please follow my … [Read more...]
Five years ago today…
Fire surrounded Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Gratitude for all of the heart and effort that went into preserving that refuge in the wilderness! Fundraising for a permanent Dharma Rain sprinkler system is well underway. I took this photo in May when I was down at Tassajara: … [Read more...]