"Barbara O’Brien’s wide-ranging account of Zen history is conveyed with a master storyteller’s ability to keep the forest from getting lost in a myriad of trees. Wearing her scholarship lightly, she blends just the right amount of skepticism about her hagiographic sources with a deep appreciation for the Dharma." — Barry Magid, author of
Nothing Is Hidden and
Ending the Pursuit of Happiness Order here!
Merry Christmas to all you Mahabloggers ! May good things come your way in the coming year.
Thank you Maha for the Sweelinck. It was beautiful. May you and your family find peace and consolation in the New Year. May the New Year bring you everything you wish for a good life. Happy Holidays.
I remember our stalwart chorus leader and music teacher struggling to drag us to a passable performance, if not an understanding, of a work with this same name. I suppose our parents thought we did well enough, although as compared with this, it would require a mind blinded by hope and pride. They are common enough.
Merry Christmas to all. As I have certainly mentioned before, we live in a community founded by a fundamentalist church. The members do not celebrate Christmas. We are the only Buddhists here, and the only household that celebrates Christmas. My wife is working a “24.” She had delivered a few babies when I talked with her around 10:00 p.m. She expected a few more. So, as always, there will be the some few precious souls beginning their journey on the same day as Jesus and Isaac Newton. Let’s not be too hard on them.
If you are lucky you get to a time when you really don’t want anything for Christmas. That would only add to the clutter and the attachment. But, seeing people struggle a little less and understanding a little more, would be just wonderful.
I remember learning the Hallelujah Chorus in four parts for choral when I was in High School. Our teacher was very professional and we practiced in a meeting hall with poor acoustics. When we practiced in church,a gothic with a domed ceiling and fantastic acoustics, we were stunned. (not easy to do with teens) The live performance for midnight mass was something we will never forget. I have some appreciation for the effort that goes into a presentation like this and the enormous shared satisfaction of getting it right.
Merry Christmas to all, especially our hostess.