Monthly Archives: January 2018

To Nowhere

January 29, 2018American literature, Buddhism, creative process, the art of narrativeDavid

On the Road from Road Novels 1957-1960 by Jack Kerouac. Edited by Douglas Brinkley. Library of America. 864 pp. It’s an odd feeling to reread On the Road after just reading The Dharma Bums for the first time. In a way it’s the same book all over again, Jack Kerouac on a mad dash around … Continue reading To Nowhere →

Woman in a Room Full of Men

January 26, 2018creative process, moviesDavid

The Post a film by Steven Spielberg. With Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts. **** There’s something irresistible about newspaper movies, the essentially blue collar guys who work there (they’re writers, but live more like private detectives) with their sleeves rolled up and their ties loosened, the looming deadlines, the whole … Continue reading Woman in a Room Full of Men →

Drunken Saint

January 22, 2018American literature, Buddhism, creative process, meditation, religion, the art of narrativeDavid

The Dharma Bums from Road Novels 1957-1960 by Jack Kerouac. Edited by Douglas Brinkley. Library of America. 864 pp. ***1/2 Jack Kerouac is the spiritual father of every whacked-out hippie who ever stumbled his way through the Sixties, head bobbing in mild agreement, mouth perpetually grinning, a beard flowing around his collar. Kerouac himself was … Continue reading Drunken Saint →

Choosing Life

January 17, 2018American literature, Buddhism, Christianity, creative process, death and dying, meditation, religion, sex, spiritualityDavid

The Light That Shines Through Infinity: Zen and the Energy of Life by Dainin Katagiri. Shambhala. 229 pp. $16.95. Jesus’ Son Stories by Denis Johnson. Picador. 133 pp. $15.00 It was unnerving for me to read Denis Johnson’s excellent but disturbing book of stories at the same time I was reading the new book of … Continue reading Choosing Life →

Is That a Promise?

January 8, 2018aging, art, movies, spirituality, the art of narrativeDavid

Ruminations on Star Wars: The Last Jedi a film by Rian Johnson. With Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega. ***1/2 For the critics who are now active and influential, the Star Wars movies were their first epics, the movies they grew up on and worshiped. I’m trying to think of what … Continue reading Is That a Promise? →

Samadhi as a Way of Life

January 5, 2018Buddhism, Christianity, meditation, religion, spiritualityDavid

Ramakrishna and His Disciples by Christopher Isherwood. Vedanta Press. 348 pp. $16.95. **** “God has made different religions to suit different aspirants, times, and countries. All doctrines are only so many paths; but a path is by no means God himself. Indeed, one can reach God if one follows any of the paths with whole-hearted … Continue reading Samadhi as a Way of Life →