PHOTO: Thich Nhat Hanh, photographer unknown
On the back cover of "Living Buddha, Living Christ," by Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton wrote: "Thich Nhat Hanh is more my brother than many who are nearer to me in race and nationality, because he and I see things the same exact way."
Perhaps surprising from a Cistercian monk, but not if you have read much of Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh. I took "Living Buddah, Living Christ" with me on a trip to Thailand, knowing I would be staying in a predominantly Buddhist country. (On an earlier trip I read "Buddhism for Beginners" for the same reason: to understand and appreciate the people I would be living amongst.) Read More
On the back cover of "Living Buddha, Living Christ," by Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton wrote: "Thich Nhat Hanh is more my brother than many who are nearer to me in race and nationality, because he and I see things the same exact way."
Perhaps surprising from a Cistercian monk, but not if you have read much of Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh. I took "Living Buddah, Living Christ" with me on a trip to Thailand, knowing I would be staying in a predominantly Buddhist country. (On an earlier trip I read "Buddhism for Beginners" for the same reason: to understand and appreciate the people I would be living amongst.) Read More
If you have clear skies tonight and a chance to go outside after 9pm, you will see Jupiter brighter than any star in the sky. The planet is closer to earth than it has been for forty-seven years! If you are interested in finding out why, check Astro Bob's website, a user friendly site for those who are new to watching the night sky as well as for those with more experience.
After an "on the porch" picnic of barbecued ribs, homemade applesauce and slaw, steaming cornbread, and fresh fruit, our small group moved to the living room for prayer and a report from one member of her recent trip to Africa where she had presented workshops on centering prayer and mid-life transitions to religious communities in Zambia. 
I take heart remembering that Blessed Pope John XXIII, in his autobiography, 
At 8:30 am I was ushered into the ultrasound room for an inside look at liver, spleen, kidneys, and gall bladder. I watched the screen on my left as the technician skillfully rolled the transducer over my skin, and asked questions as shadowy images appeared. She explained which organs were which, showed me how she measured them, and interpreted bright colors as indicators of blood flow.
Over the past fifty years I have entrusted my heart, soul, and mind to entries in journal pages written in eclectic styles that include reflection, documentation, study, rant, questions, lists, drawings, and pasted bits of print, but whatever the form, the writing always ends up as prayer. At least my definition of prayer, which is presenting oneself to God in the very moment, aware, if only briefly, of resting in Divinity’s infinite self, breathing the Holy One's breath as my own.