Category Archives: compassion
AFSC: a wonderful mob
I am Buddhist, and have no interest in also being a Christian (which is perfectly possible). However, if ever I changed my mind, the practice and philosophy of the Quakers appeals to me the most. Having studied many versions of … Continue reading
She was 11 and pregnant
An essay about a little girl being raped by a family member should not be classified as “Politics,” but in our insane world, that’s where it belongs. Please read this passionate essay from a doctor to understand the REAL right … Continue reading
A guide on how to be deaf in today’s world
I learned HEAPS from reading this warm, articulate and inspiring essay by Rachel Zemach. She became deaf at 10 years of age, and has taught deaf kids in school, so knows what she is talking about. Um… writing about. I … Continue reading
War Is Crime, by Laurie Corzett
Laurie sent me this with a request to share it, and who am I to disobey an old friend? It’s a strange philosophy, making war the ultimate decider of conflict or disagreement. Over and over it fails, miserably, tragically. Yet … Continue reading
Now is the need for equanimity
War is always a crime: a crime against humanity, a crime against nature, even a crime against the perpetrator. Everyone suffers in a war, even the victor. If you don’t believe me, read what Eisenhower has said on the subject. … Continue reading
First aid for grief and other all-consuming worries
This is a short chapter from my coming book on grief, If you have lost a loved one. 3. Scheduling: Immediate first aid Rose had nursed her husband at home through three years of cancer, and then he died. She … Continue reading
Your body is only a space suit for surviving on this planet
This is what one of my role models, Petrea King, says. It is particularly relevant when a loved one dies, and your last view of the person was horrific. A dear young friend has just contacted me, because this is … Continue reading
Refugee Legal: NOT the annual dinner
In Australia, refugees and asylum seekers face a deliberately cruel, torturous legal process designed to induce fear and uncertainty. Refugee Legal is a voluntary organisation of generous lawyers who do their best for people who fled their country already traumatised, … Continue reading
How will humanity’s owners respond to climate refugees?
The desperate exodus from Latin America is due in part to drought and extreme weather events. The Syrian civil war started because drought forced millions to move from farms to the city. You know, climate change? The hot air in … Continue reading