Blowin' in the Wind
Spring 2015 Vol. 31 #2
Spring 2015 Vol. 31 #2
Introduction
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
Pubisher's Note
In 1986, Alan Novidor agreed to take on “managing the business end” of Inquiring Mind . . . “for a while.” Three decades later, he offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes view.
Features
From their first taste of the teachings to reflections on death, vipassana teachers Joseph Goldstein and Pascal Auclair talk dharma.
Interview with Women Teachers: Bringing Our Full Selves to the Cushion
By Barbara Gates, Sandy Boucher
As strong women teachers and practitioners, Sandy Boucher, Anna Douglas, Barbara Gates, Gina Sharpe, Erin Treat and Arinna Weisman advocate for fully embodied dharma.
East Bay Meditation Center cofounder Larry Yang makes a passionate argument for diversity in our sanghas.
In a step on the path toward liberation, Insight teacher Gil Fronsdal temporarily gave up mindfulness.
Gil Fronsdal discusses practice with an ardent student of Pa Auk Sayadaw, Nikki Mirghafori, who leads vipassana retreats and also teaches secular mindfulness and compassion courses.
In conversation with Gil Fronsdal, Insight teacher Max Erdstein says, “I cherish the immediacy and poetry of Zen and the simplicity, clarity and pragmatism of vipassana.”
Dynamic UCLA mindfulness teacher Diana Winston translates Buddhism “without its blind spots and cultural trappings.”
In his comparison between classical and secular Buddhism, monk/scholar Bhikkhu Bodhi urges both streams to commit to peace, justice and social transformation.
Interview with Jack Kornfield & Trudy Goodman: The Dharma Is Here to Stay
By the Editors of Inquiring Mind
Partners in dharma and romance, Spirit Rock’s Jack Kornfield and InsightLA’s Trudy Goodman take up the challenges of relationship, family, health and loss.
Desert Notebook: Three days with Ruth Denison, My Ninety-Two-Year-Old Dharma Teacher
By Sandy Boucher
Sandy Boucher, a few months before Denison’s death, evokes the Mojave Desert environment and the flickering intensity of her beloved teacher.
Inquiring Mind editor Barbara Gates gives her spunky ninety-three-year-old mother a bath.
In her poetic essay, Theravada nun Ayya Tathaaloka conjures an image of the bodhi seed sprouting and cracking open a path for women to ordain.
Activist Theravada nuns Ayya Santacitta and Ayya Santussika, committed guardians of the earth, say: “If we’re going to pass anything on, we had better put everything we can into making a difference now.”
Buddhist Geek Vincent Horn describes his vision of virtual, cloud-based, techno-enhanced sanghas.
In contrast to cybersangha, Inquiring Mind reviews editor James Schnebly portrays a cozy sangha meeting in a basement across the street from a topless/bottomless dance club.
Poems & Not Poems
Jane Hirshfield’s poetry always resonates; for our last poetry page, even more so.
Gary Gach translates the work of a 12th-century Zen master.
A short Ming dynasty poem, translated by Gary Gach.
Another T’ang dynasty poem translated by Gary Gach, this time in collaboration with C.H. Kwock.
Dharma Jewel
Singing in the Dead of the Night—The Children’s Blue Bird, Walden and The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk
By Patrick McMahon
Patrick McMahon reflects on three of his “oldest friends”: The Children’s Blue Bird, Walden, and The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk.
Practice
Kate Wheeler affectionately introduces a talk by Ven. U Pandita, who trained Western teachers Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, Gil Fronsdal and Diana Winston, to name a few.
The Dharma & the Drama
Wes Nisker rummages through thirty years of “Mind-moments” and finds excerpts from his favorite past columns.