Compassion has enemies, and those enemies are things like pity, moral outrage, fear.

When we have disorderly lives, it makes it difficult for our minds to be orderly and for us to be at ease with disorder.

To work with Kaz on this kind of project is a fascinating process...He seems to be Dogen himself when offering the translations that we Western collaborators then refine with him.

I am working on a technical paper on compassion. So I am reading everything I can on the subject, including my own mind and heart.

I've worked in the prison system, on death row and maximum security. I did that work for six years. I've worked with some of the most difficult people in our society. Buddhism was accessible and helpful for these individuals.

All are interconnected...the environment; rights of the dying; care of caregivers; education and medical care for peoples of the Himalayas; prison work; those living on the margins of society, particularly kids.

I am always cautious about naming the known, as we often forget to hold in regard those whose names will never be known to anyone outside of their close circle.