Roots

Draft 2 of Lion's Roar articleI once got into a fight with my beloved lay dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition. She insisted that the insight of interbeing was

Draft article for Lion's RoarFor months in residence at a Soto Zen temple, I woke before dawn to meditate, observing the sunrise in shadows migrating on white walls. Some days,

My root teacher Thich Nhat Hanh taught me to rest. Once a week at his monasteries, monks and nuns would schedule a lazy day — a day without plans, formal practice,

Sometimes, I know it's hard to find a way out trying to escape fear or anger or discomfort, you doom scroll the news or swipe on the apps until a

That moment of clarity - I am not afraid of you You standing towering over me, daring me to be afraid Yes - my legs are shaking, adrenaline is flowing

November 28, 2020 Abbas, Thank you for showing up, if only to reflect and say goodbye. And thank you for your honesty and openness this past Tuesday. I have taken

1- I come for myself, not you My pussy is my own My body is my own How dare you tell me That you were imagining a future for us

all the things I'll never need to know againYou invited me into your tiny house and taught me its secrets: The water pump needs to be on to flush the

(what you've left behind)Just last week you walked through my door with Arms full of groceries, filled the fridge with my favorite zucchini, Kombucha, leeks, huge portobello mushrooms (which

In Israel and Palestine, where I lived from December 2018 - March 2020, there is a vast concrete wall separating Jerusalem from the West Bank. The wall is unsurpassable for

Dear John, I do not want to be in this committed relationship anymore, I am sorry. I am dreading having to tell this to you in person and to see

I open up slowly, like a flower unfurling her petals Letting go of the fear of being seen, relaxing into the Sweet cascade of your fingers skimming over each Region

I open up slowly, like a flower unfurling her petals letting go of the fear of being seen, relaxing into the sweet cascade of your fingers skimming over each region

Today, throw a tantrum, rage at every Fucking thing you hate Let the axe fall hard into the ground, Fuck you fuck this fuck everything Allow yourself to feel everything.

My body sings with power heat, sex, lustful for destruction, taking The axe arcs through the air, from the ground, past my left shoulder, singhing the air with the force

I have to say, I am fucking angry at the state of the world. People of plenty, why are you polluting the oceans, consuming resources like crazy, acting as if

Email to Leo in response to his messages on March 23 and 25 Dear Leo, It’s early morning here in California, outside the sky is black and a set

There is nowhere to go, nothing to do. Today is a lazy day in Jerusalem and I am on day 2 of a self-imposed quarantine.

Reflecting on metamorphosis after a session with Leo in ViennaTo become a butterfly, let go of your desire to be anyone but yourself. Notice the wings sewn onto your back,

Making agreements with CharlotteSlowly, slowly the barriers come down between two hearts. It is a process of committing to deep vulnerability and humility, to being slow to act on flaring

Turning to the practiceA fog has lifted inside of me by turning to the practice, music stirring a peace and settledness in my body that I've been missing since arriving

I agree to pour my heart into actualizing Tamkeen regardless of whether I receive a visa to enter Israel Palestine.