I was interviewing a client recently about writing her will, and asked her, as a matter of course, whether she had any specific burial requests. “Yes,” she said. “I’d like to be composted.” I was intrigued. She had read about it, and sent me a link to Promessa, a Swedish company that is promoting ecologically sound burials. There are groups in the United States that are promoting both environmentally sound funerals (e.g. lack of embalming) and burials. They aren’t necessarily … read more »
A Lesson from Tangier
I just came back from vacation in Spain. As part of our adventure, my husband and I took a train from Sevilla to the south coast, and a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier, Morocco. We only stayed overnight, but in that short time, I learned a lesson. The guidebooks warn you about the hustlers who see the tourist as an easy target. For that reason, many tourists only come for a day trip, hiring guides in advance … read more »
Compassion and Mediation
I am taking a course this weekend from Zoketsu Norman Fisher – a Zen Buddhist priest, and a teacher of meditation. In preparation, I read an article he wrote entitled, “Developing Compassion.” He writes, “to be narrowly self-interested and self-identified is simply a very dangerous and unhappy way to live – the wider your interest and larger your sense of identity, the happier and the stronger you will be.” And this reminds me of words of my mediation teachers, Jack … read more »