I was saddened to learn that Dr. Larry Ward, a dharma teacher in the tradition of the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, recently passed away.
He and I got to record a short conversation about the Kural in which we spoke about openness to all people, Thich Nhat Hanh’s legacy, and the power of poetry to open doors within us.
In Larry’s honor, I wanted to share this conversation with you:
Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:
- The poetry dialogue that Larry is putting together and how poetry is emptiness, in the sense that it is nonlocal and able to reach us wherever we may be: 20:12
- On being held by unseen arms and training our eyes to look on people with openness: 3:27
- Poetry that opens a door to the mystic dimension: 8:49
- Rain, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Miracle of Mindfulness: 12:13
- Each verse as an entry point into our depths: 16:28
Upcoming Appearances
I’m honored to be attending and speaking at the 6th International Thirukkural Conference in Toronto.
Here is a short video in English about what I’ll be speaking about:
And here’s one in Tamil!
If you or anyone you know might be attending, I’ll look forward to the opportunity to meet in person!