Fire and ice
Fire and ice

Luis is a young man in his early twenties who first came to the Abbey as a child with his mother many years ago. This is part of a series of writings he is working on as he searches for the meaning of love.
Flames of Strife,
Ice of stagnation,
Both powerful forces,
Causing much havoc
Inferno burns skin,
Anger causing hatred,
Frustration causing misunderstanding,
Possessiveness causing jealousy
Blizzard chills bone,
Fear causing paralysis,
Distrust causing secrecy
Panic causing avoidance
Water in center,
Reflecting true understanding,
Consolidates both together,
Bringing steam forth
As steam dissipates,
Water is left,
With encompassing forgiveness,
Love takes form
Featured image excerpts of photos by Steven Bochniewicz and Arthur A.
Venerable Thubten Chodron
Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.