Author Archives: mikemullooly

Vol. 13. March 10, 2021 Bob Dylan put the pandemic in perspective when he sang, Every step of the way, we walk the line.  Your days are numbered. So are mine.Time is piling up. We struggle and we scrape.  We’re all boxed in, nowhere to escape. Time indeed is piling up. One year in captivity.Continue reading “The Timeless Time-Out”

Vol. 12. February 9, 2021 Jack Kerouac wrote, “Happiness doesn’t come from coddling the senses, but from cultivating the mind. Buddhahood is the way. I’m not gonna be fooled anymore. I’m here to stick to my sweet tathagata.” How do we achieve happiness? How do we cultivate the mind? Here’s some advice from a 9thContinue reading “Buddhahood is the Way”

Vol. 11. January 9, 2021 The Washington Post summarized the events of January 6, 2021 in a memorable headline: Pro-Trump Mob Storms Capitol.  The rioters disrupted congressional lawmakers who were mulling over the counting of Electoral College votes.  The violence left five people dead and a nation in shock.  Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.),Continue reading “The Insanity of Ignorant Humanity”

Vol. 10. December 8, 2020 And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not. For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you was born this day in the cityContinue reading “’Tis the Season of the Virgin Birth”

Vol. 9. November 9, 2020 On March 4, 1865, with the end of the Civil War in sight, Abraham Lincoln addressed the nation: “With malice toward none, with charity for all … let us … bind up the nation’s wounds.” It seems as if America has been through another Civil War. The Election of 2020Continue reading “Has the Age of American Cruelty ended?”

Vol. 8. October 9, 2020 Euripides once wrote, “When one with honeyed words but evil mind persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.” My friends, a presidential election is upon us. The result is sure to cause suffering for some, and happiness for others. But the result of the election has already been decidedContinue reading “Presidential Election Karma”

Vol. 7. September 2, 2020 Shakespeare described an image for this time of year: “The whining schoolboy, with his satchel, and shining morning face, creeping like snail, unwillingly to school.” If Shakespeare were to update his school supply list, he would add a face mask and hand sanitizer. One issue facing Americans today is shouldContinue reading “Back to School with the Buddha”

Vol. 6. August 6, 2020 P. G. Wodehouse once wrote, “It was a lovely day of blue skies and gentle breezes. Bees buzzed, birds tootled, and squirrels bustled to and fro, getting their suntan in the sunshine. In a word, all nature smiled.” Ah, Summer! What is it about summer that causes artists to rhapsodize?Continue reading “The Six Harmonies”

Vol. 5. July 5, 2020 Any transition is difficult. I recently got married, about a year ago. The transition from bachelorhood to married life has been not a bed of roses. Adjusting to new sights, new smells, and new messes tests the limits of patience and forgiveness. For a tidy guy to see wet towelsContinue reading “Transitions Are Difficult”

Vol. 4. June 10, 2020 Tennessee Williams once wrote: “Life is an unanswered question. But let’s still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.” The most lethal conflict in American history was the Civil War. 620,000 citizens died in four years. In the current pandemic, more than 100,000 citizens have died in aboutContinue reading “Diamond Graveyard Samadhi”