off by myself

 Not having friends is not as worrying as you might think.

I am so happy that so many people have so many friends.

All my friends are ghosts in the night. 

Yearning for friends in my rocky cave,

I am captivated by the singing of small birds;

The wind entering deep into the grotto

Mingles with the voice of the stream.

Awakening from a dream,

This hermit exists beyond the world.

A quiet life, off by myself,

Fulfills my spirit.

        --Fugai Ekun (1568-1654)

 Don’t get me wrong, I recommend friendship.

At night, when alone, everything sleeps, the world goes its own way.

It doesn’t surprise me that, off by oneself, we are alone, unlamenting solitude,

it doesn’t pay

Responding to nytimes article on heat-related deaths in Europe: 

Yes, the climate is changing. However, I’m afraid we humans lack the intelligent resolve to collate facts, causes, and conditions of our plight.

When it becomes profitable to change our errant behaviors, we’ll change them. Until then, we are slaves of profitability and self-interests. 

Most corporate and political decision makers would cherish a high quarterly return over some vague 'let’s protect the future' and the lives of our grandchildren, our animals, and the fructifying earth.

quia per te fructum vitæ communicávimus. / because the fruit of the tree of life has been given to us to eat

Something about the Feast of the Assumption of Mary is intriguing: 

Benedícta fília tua Dómino :

O daughter, you have been blessed by the Lord:

quia per te fructum vitæ communicávimus.

because the fruit of the tree of life has been given to us to eat.

(Dan. 3: 57-88 et 56) Benedícite, ómnia ópera Dómini, Dómino:

(Dan 3: 57-88 & 56) Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord:

laudáte et superexaltáte eum in sǽcula.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

2. Benedícite, Angeli Dómini, Dómino:

2. Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord:

benedícite, cæli, Dómino.

You heavens, bless the Lord.

3. Benedícite, aquæ omnes, quæ super cælos sunt, Dómino:

3. All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord:

benedícite, omnes virtútes Dómini, Dómino.

All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.

4. Benedícite, sol et luna, Dómino:

4. Sun and moon, bless the Lord:

benedícite, stellæ cæli, Dómino.

Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

5. Benedícite, omnis imber et ros, Dómino:

5. Every shower and dew, bless the Lord:

benedícite, omnes spíritus Dei, Dómino.

All you winds, bless the Lord.

6. Benedícite, ignis et æstus, Dómino:

6. Fire and heat, bless the Lord:

benedícite, frigus et æstus, Dómino.

Cold and chill, bless the Lord.

7. Benedícite, rores et pruína, Dómino:

7. Dew and rain, bless the Lord:

benedícite, gelu et frigus, Dómino.

Frost and chill, bless the Lord.

8. Benedícite, glácies et nives, Dómino:

8. Ice and snow, bless the Lord:

benedícite, noctes et dies, Dómino.

Nights and days, bless the Lord.

9. Benedícite, lux et ténebræ, Dómino:

9. Light and darkness, bless the Lord:

benedícite, fúlgura et nubes, Dómino.

Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

10. Benedícat terra Dóminum:

10. Let the earth bless the Lord:

laudet et superexáltet eum in sǽcula.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

11. Benedícite, montes et colles, Dómino:

11. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord:

benedícite, univérsa germinántia in terra, Dómino.

Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.

12. Benedícite, fontes, Dómino:

12. You springs, bless the Lord:

benedícite, mária et flúmina, Dómino.

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.

13. Benedícite, cete, et ómnia, quæ movéntur in aquis, Dómino:

13. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord:

benedícite, omnes vólucres cæli, Dómino.

All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.

14. Benedícite, omnes béstiæ et pécora, Dómino:

14. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord:

benedícite, fílii hóminum, Dómino.

You sons of men, bless the Lord.

15. Benedícat Israël Dóminum:

15. O Israel, bless the Lord:

laudet et superexáltet eum in sǽcula.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

16. Benedícite, sacerdótes Dómini, Dómino:

16. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord:

benedícite, servi Dómini, Dómino.

Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.

17. Benedícite, spíritus, et ánimæ justórum, Dómino:

17. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.

benedícite, sancti, et húmiles corde, Dómino.

Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.

18. Benedícite, Ananía, Azaría, Mísaël, Dómino:

18. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all forever.

laudáte et superexaltáte eum in sǽcula.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

19. Benedicámus Patrem et Fílium cum Sancto Spíritu:

19. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit:

laudémus et superexaltémus eum in sǽcula.

Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.

20. Benedíctus es, Dómine, in firmaménto cæli:

20. Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven:

et laudábilis, et gloriósus, et superexaltátus in sǽcula.

Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Benedícta fília tua Dómino :

O daughter, you have been blessed by the Lord:

quia per te fructum vitæ communicávimus.

because the fruit of the tree of life has been given to us to eat.

(--Antiphona, Laudes) 

aller anfang ist schwer

 To die

Is to become

Centered

And disappear

Into the beginning

Of everything

she disappeared into the center

 Sweet coolness

Of morning —

Why does someone

Want us to believe

Mary was assumed

Into heaven?

There’s something

Odd about God

Mary tries to bring

God to earth

Then, after long 

watching

She disappears

As we all will

There’s enough truth

Here to confound

Each

Of us

what unkindness doth reek

                (for Jason Arday)

Racism kills

I mourn for

Cambridge man

Hounded by

Press and

Administrators

Their fingerprints

All over

His death

passing time

 when I awoke

this morning

I fed cats

now

I will feed

dog

soon 

go to

prison

there’s

not much

to tell --

it is

friday,

things

are still

things

still are

new places to live

The elderly nuns (sisters) live in assisted living facilities says nytimes article: 

 

“In the mid-1960s, America was home to more than 180,000 Roman Catholic nuns; now there are only about 35,000, with an average age of over 80. Congregations have had to sell or close their convents, forcing these older sisters to find new places to live.”  

 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/nyregion/last-nuns-new-york-city.html

Things change.

Sexual abuse by priests and clergy soured much of the church.

These women remained steadfast. Their schools closed. Their convents sold. They scrambled for living accommodations, for medical care.

Soon no one will know about their work and dedication.

Soon we will forget a great deal as cultures disappear.

My classrooms at St. A’s, the eight years, and the black-robed women, remain vivid.

when you and me become we

 Do you love God?

     Of course I do.

Show me God,

     Of course you do.

What are you saying?

     Of course we are.

pratītyasamutpāda

Something gave up in me not long ago.

Nothing mattered.

Everything dropped to ground

The fuel in the tea brazier is burnt out,

So I collect pine needles,

The fields of medicinal plants are empty,

So I cut vegetable roots.

Naturally dull, I’ve forgotten Zen activities,

My gate is darkened at noon by

The shade of ancient trees.

White clouds impart a sense of peace

To my Zen meditation,

Green grasses suffice to make a rug for my guests.

What I have collected is a hundred years

Of emptiness.

—Isshi Bunshu (1608-1646)

 I wonder about this nothing. I wonder about this emptiness.

Emptiness, or śūnyatā in Sanskrit, is a central Buddhist concept meaning that all things lack an inherent, permanent, or independent self-nature (svabhāva). It does not mean literal nothingness or non-existence; rather, it describes how everything exists interdependently through changing causes and conditions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Core Meaning of Śūnyatā

• No Independent Core: People, objects, and mental states possess no separate, fixed identity.
• 
  
• Dependent Origination (Pratītyasamutpāda): Everything arises and continues in relation to other factors (e.g., a plant needs soil, water, and sun).
• 
  
• Not Nihilism: Emptiness affirms that things function and exist vividly, just without a permanent essence.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
• 
  

Philosophical and Practical Significance

• The Middle Way: It avoids the extremes of eternalism (believing things last forever) and annihilationism (believing nothing matters or exists). [1, 2, 4, 5]
• 
  
• Root of Freedom: Clinging to a solid, permanent "self" or "other" causes suffering; realizing emptiness dissolves attachment and fear. [1, 2]
• 
  
• The Heart Sutra: Famous for the paradox "form is emptiness, emptiness is form," showing that the tangible world and its empty nature are inseparable. [1, 2]

-- search, Emptiness in Buddhism

As the story goes, a man in Palestine a couple of thousand years ago looked at bread and thought "this is what i am." 

He was bread.

Today he is in cook-fires, supermarkets, grocery stores, and bakeries across the world.

Just bread.

Our suffering surrounds our desire not to be bread.

Last night I did not eat the piece of bread placed on my plate. My appetite has gone off to visit its cousin in the county. If it returns this morning perhaps I'll dip it in tea and slurp it.

Many people believe the man who is bread is the one who will lead us to enlightenment one crumb one crust at a time.

Nothing would please me more.

I'll originate and depend (Pratītyasamutpāda) on it.

Let's sit together with this!