When I visited the Portland Art Museum, I was struck by the figure of the Raven transforming into the sun. I felt him inviting me to dance & so to honor this I offered my Mamiya C330 camera & a roll of Ilford Delta 3200 b&w film. I bowed before…

The stories are missing. I cannot hear your stories. Dear ones singing in silence before me now, can you show me your stories? This one would sit & listen & carry them forward & disperse them in the world like a dandelion puff exploding in the wind. …

This summer I attended the Grand Ronde Powwow here in Oregon. As an artist I prefer metaphor to the typical fact reporting narrative & so I would like share this experience by offering this story & some photos I made the old-fashioned way, using medium format b&w film. As an…

Beware the Teacher who calls themselves Teacher I remember the first fruits of the practice. I experienced an exuberant energy & enthusiasm I wanted so much to share with others. I was so certain of the Way that I felt I really must convince others. I did not know this…

A folk-tale about seeing beyond There once was a woman whose face was so deformed that even her own family would have nothing to do with her. She was shunned by everyone & left to live alone. Even though this made her sad, she carried no resentment. …

A full life is empty of purpose. I make my life empty because I am full of purpose. Some Buddhist scripture offers a list of different stages of realization. These can be called Dharma Gates, Four Dhyanas, Nine Levels of the Three Realms, Kensho (in Japanese Zen), to name but…

If you’re righteous, you’re not paying attention. — Space is limitless. A heart filled with anger doesn’t seem to have space for anything else. That is the nature of anger. Our time is short. Why waste what precious moments we have left? Why spend these moments contributing to the suffering of others who are already suffering enough? Everyone…

What kind of “book” could serve a way of transmitting knowledge that honors oral wisdom traditions? A printed book is a kind of portable knowledge transmission object. So is a photograph. These are flat forms that rely on their knowers carrying certain contextual knowledge around how to unwrap what they…

Some conversations don’t have to be spoken. What about a plant? Can’t they speak with us too? What a lot of us think of as mere plants are recognized by many traditions as non-sentient beings. They aren’t just passive things. They are grandparents, cousins, aunties. Practicing walking meditation in the…