Also see articles/excerpts and interviews and Readers' Comments and all over cuke.com

02-19-09 - Chinese Chan Master Sheng Yen has departed this floating world. A report from Andrew Main.

2-05-09 - Gloria Levine writes about Harambee Arts

I am writing to you from Nairobi, Kenya where I've been living and working as a Fulbright scholar since the beginning of September 2008. As part of my fellowship, I am fulfilling the mission of Harambee Arts, by hiring and training talented young artists to work with troubled children in slum areas, hospitals, schools and orphanages. To date, we have started “art clubs” in four slum schools and the “presidents” of the clubs are chosen from the “special needs children”, those with autism, downs syndrome and other neurological problems.

We also continue to lead a weekly art group for 30 HIV+ women at Langata Women’s Prison in Nairobi. The head warden said, “For the first time, the prisoners are eager to be tested for HIV so that they will be eligible to attend the Harambee Arts support group.” Most recently we led a workshop for grandmothers who are raising up to 20 orphans each, in a South African township. They had never painted before and the results were spectacular.

Five artists have been hired…two in Zimbabwe and three in Kenya, and more than 2,000 children have participated in our programs. Since the inception of Harambee Arts in fall 2007, more than 400 psychologists, teachers and social workers have been trained in our methodology of non-directive, child centered expressive arts.

Your continued support of our work in Sub-saharan Africa is greatly needed. Donations enable the Harambee Arts staff to continue our work with children and women who have been traumatized by the AIDS pandemic, civil wars, famine and displacement; and train others. Art supplies will be purchased! Capable youth will be given jobs! More trainings will be offered! Please see the photos below to view the beautiful recipients of our services.

For more information about Harambee Arts you can visit: www.harambeearts.org. It is easy to make a tax-deductible and secure financial donation by visiting our Donation Page at www.harambeearts.org/donate.html (and click on the "Donate" button) or send a check by filling out the attached Donation Form (.pdf).

Harambee Arts

12-04-08 - A Seasonal Letter --- from Brother David Steindl-Rast

8-02-08 - After the fire photos from Tassajara by Gene DeSmidt - and a poem.

6-04-08 - Check out Clark Strand on bridging Buddhism and the Bible and on the World Wisdom site and here's an article by him on meditation with gurus.

5-14-08 - Congratulations to Barbara Wenger, honored recently as founder of Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group. Thanks Lane Olson for the tip. And I saw Barbara right afterwards in her own home and she didn't even mention it. I was there meeting with her hubby, Michael Wenger, about the Shunryu Suzuki lecture archive.

I encouraged Michael to send more jpgs of his whimsical yet profound art which I'm including now in the new Art-Art department of Cuke-the arts. Next we'll have to get some of Barbara's photos. There are a bunch in cuke but who knows where.

That reminds me - to order Barbara Wenger's slide slow with 650  photos of Tassajara Alumni click the PDF file.

Here's the sort of thing Barbara has done: the City Center neighborhood the Peace Wall

- thanks Wengers - dc

5-01-08 - Steve Tipton has a new book out: Public Pulpits: Methodists and Mainline Churches in the Moral Argument of Public Life. Go to Steve Tipton books for more this book and others including one from the Crooked Cucumber bio.

4-30-08 - Brad Warner of Hardcore Zen fame interviews Nina Hartley for Suicide Girls. Here's Nina's website. Those who were around the SFZC and Berkeley ZC twenty five years ago or more might remember her as a funny, bright, cute pig-tailed kid with horn-rimmed glasses with a pre-stage name. - thanks Lor

4-29-08 - Barbara Wenger sent three photos of Soen, Watts, and Snyder with queries about them.

4-25-08 - Two photos from Tassajara from Gene DeSmidt on his own page on cuke.

4-21-08 - Read For Your Benefit by Ross Bolleter and see the update on what's happening with his great music.

4-18-08 - What is the Ryaku Fusatsu by Nonin Chowaney

4-08-08 - When I first came to the SFZC back in '66, Daniel Eggink was still around. He had a shaved head (the first to do so) was one of the fascinating characters around that scene. Through the years I'd hear about him. Reuven Benyuhmin's interview starts off with telling how Daniel sent him to study with Suzuki. Here's his website's bio page - from there one can explore.

Just got this email from Daniel

Hello brother David,
Here is link for inspiration
with love in Christ
brother egg

And do check out that inspirational link. - dc

3-27-08 - Kathy Cook writes Incantation for People Tending the Watershed

2-29-08 - The Role and Significance of Korean Son in the Study of East Asian Buddhism by Lew Lancaster - just throwing in an article by Lew to add to his interview and other links.

2-23-08 - Ross Bolleter is a Zen teacher and musician who lives in Perth Australia. He's also the latest addition to the cuke music page.

2-06-08 - Zen and the Art of Poetry: An Interview with Jane Hirshfield

1-25-08 - On or By Barton Stone - like poems

Full Moon Poetry by Katrinka McKay

12-29-07 - Some holiday and new years greetings

12-19-07 - Jeff Broadbent on Climate Change

12-14-07   Andrew Main sends Confucian greetings

12-09-07 - Dan Welch Art

12-08-07 - Brother David's Season's Greetings

Tony Patchell  pre Zen stories

The Tassajara Subculture by Clay Chadwick