News Archives
These updates are awesome!" — A.S.
"Your descriptions are wonderful and poignant." —S.D.
"Your descriptions are wonderful and poignant." —S.D.
Presentations in U.S. & Canada and a story of life in Kolkata, India
January 27, 2012
Greetings from the Philippines as I make my way back from Kolkata, India, to the United States. I'll be on the remote Island of Bohol until January 31, then Hawaii, then Michigan in February. From sunshine and beaches to snow and cold ... ah, diversity.
Upcoming presentations
Once back in the U.S., I'll be busy with presentations regarding this trip and workshops on writing and editing. I hope to see you at ...
A Sunday walk in the park—Kolkata, India; Sunday, November 27, 2011
Kolkata Maidan Park is a huge playground for people of all ages. Numerous athletic clubs foster one sport or another. There are Police Club facilities and other clubs with nondescript names that indicate a purpose other than athletics. And it’s within walking distance of my home for these four months in Kolkata.
So, on a Sunday afternoon, I cross Chowringhee Avenue, a major boulevard, at Park Street and enter the maidan. The place is alive with hives of people picnicking, playing, passing time.
An amateur cricket match is in progress. Read more ...
January 27, 2012
Greetings from the Philippines as I make my way back from Kolkata, India, to the United States. I'll be on the remote Island of Bohol until January 31, then Hawaii, then Michigan in February. From sunshine and beaches to snow and cold ... ah, diversity.
Upcoming presentations
Once back in the U.S., I'll be busy with presentations regarding this trip and workshops on writing and editing. I hope to see you at ...
- Edit that Novel writing workshop. Burtchville Township Library (north of Port Huron, Michigan, USA). Saturday, February 18, 2012. 10:00 am until noon. Pubic welcome. No charge. Info: call 269-385-8550.
- Celebrating India's Religious Diversity Sunday service. Unitarian Fellowship, Lochiel Kiwanis Community Centre, 180 College St. North, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Sunday, February 19, 2012. 11:00 a.m.
- "Great Crossings" travelogue about sailing tall ships across the Atlantic and on the Aegean and Black seas and traveling by freighter on the Baltic Sea. Burtchville Township Library (north of Port Huron, Michigan, USA). Tuesday, February 21, 2012. 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Pubic welcome. No charge. Registration requested. 269-385-8550.
A Sunday walk in the park—Kolkata, India; Sunday, November 27, 2011
Kolkata Maidan Park is a huge playground for people of all ages. Numerous athletic clubs foster one sport or another. There are Police Club facilities and other clubs with nondescript names that indicate a purpose other than athletics. And it’s within walking distance of my home for these four months in Kolkata.
So, on a Sunday afternoon, I cross Chowringhee Avenue, a major boulevard, at Park Street and enter the maidan. The place is alive with hives of people picnicking, playing, passing time.
An amateur cricket match is in progress. Read more ...
Revelations from the Road
November 8, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta. Reclaiming Lives, the book with Rosalie Giffoniello about her work with underprivileged slum children, progresses.
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
An article about rebuilding homes in Leh/Ladakh after a killer flood appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Featured Story:
India and America. Are they different or similar? Roaming through the basti, the slum neighborhood where I'm staying here in Kolkata, I see more similarity than differences even though the two nation are, geophysically, a half a world apart. Read India and America: Different or Similar story ...
November 8, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta. Reclaiming Lives, the book with Rosalie Giffoniello about her work with underprivileged slum children, progresses.
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
An article about rebuilding homes in Leh/Ladakh after a killer flood appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Featured Story:
India and America. Are they different or similar? Roaming through the basti, the slum neighborhood where I'm staying here in Kolkata, I see more similarity than differences even though the two nation are, geophysically, a half a world apart. Read India and America: Different or Similar story ...
Revelations from the Road
October 30, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta. Reclaiming Lives, the book with Rosalie Giffoniello about her work with underprivileged slum children, progresses.
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
An article about rebuilding homes in Leh/Ladakh after a killer flood appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Featured Story:
The people who work in a myriad of Kolkata's curbside businesses are enterprising in a simple, basic way. They work hard under meager conditions. One the main enterprises outside my window comes from the hands of men who cook biryani, a meal of rice, potatoes, meat, chilies, and spicy herbs, in huge cauldrons over an open fire.
Read cauldron cooking and other enterprises ...
October 30, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta. Reclaiming Lives, the book with Rosalie Giffoniello about her work with underprivileged slum children, progresses.
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
An article about rebuilding homes in Leh/Ladakh after a killer flood appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Featured Story:
The people who work in a myriad of Kolkata's curbside businesses are enterprising in a simple, basic way. They work hard under meager conditions. One the main enterprises outside my window comes from the hands of men who cook biryani, a meal of rice, potatoes, meat, chilies, and spicy herbs, in huge cauldrons over an open fire.
Read cauldron cooking and other enterprises ...
Revelations from the Road
October 25, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta. Reclaiming Lives, the book with Rosalie Giffoniello about her work with underprivileged slum children, progresses.
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
An article about rebuilding homes in Leh/Ladakh after a killer flood appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Life in a Slum Neighborhood:
Rosalie's apartment is in a relatively nice slum. The buildings are made of concrete as opposed to scraps of wood or tin—and I've seen those too. Yet, neighbor families of eight to twelve adults and children dwell in a single room that might measure 12 x 12. Some rooms are sleep-on-the-floor dormitories for, perhaps, a dozen men who lie on thin blankets or pieces of cardboard. The intense heat in these rooms motivates many men to sleep on sidewalks and building steps. Read more ...
October 25, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta. Reclaiming Lives, the book with Rosalie Giffoniello about her work with underprivileged slum children, progresses.
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
An article about rebuilding homes in Leh/Ladakh after a killer flood appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Life in a Slum Neighborhood:
Rosalie's apartment is in a relatively nice slum. The buildings are made of concrete as opposed to scraps of wood or tin—and I've seen those too. Yet, neighbor families of eight to twelve adults and children dwell in a single room that might measure 12 x 12. Some rooms are sleep-on-the-floor dormitories for, perhaps, a dozen men who lie on thin blankets or pieces of cardboard. The intense heat in these rooms motivates many men to sleep on sidewalks and building steps. Read more ...
Revelations from the Road
October 16, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta (known in India as Kolkata), where I'm helping Rosalie Giffoniello craft a book, Reclaiming Lives, about her work with underprivileged children in Calcutta’s slums. Rosalie’s U.S.-based nonprofit is Empower The Children (ETC).
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
A magazine article about young people helping residents of Leh/Ladakh rebuild their homes and lives after a killer flood roared through there a year ago appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Empower The Children schools
September 20 to 30, 2011: Rosalie and I visit six schools and a children's orthopedic hospital. Her organization, Empower The Children, operates and totally funds three of these schools and partially funds the other facilities. The children range in age from three to teens. Some are physically or mentally challenged. Some are talented and determined to escape the slums in which they live.
Rosalie tells her teachers, “Love the children first. If you love them, they will learn.” Striking a child is forbidden in an ETC school.
Read more ...
October 16, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta (known in India as Kolkata), where I'm helping Rosalie Giffoniello craft a book, Reclaiming Lives, about her work with underprivileged children in Calcutta’s slums. Rosalie’s U.S.-based nonprofit is Empower The Children (ETC).
Recent stories are on my web site about traveling in India and visiting Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples. Read more ...
A magazine article about young people helping residents of Leh/Ladakh rebuild their homes and lives after a killer flood roared through there a year ago appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Empower The Children schools
September 20 to 30, 2011: Rosalie and I visit six schools and a children's orthopedic hospital. Her organization, Empower The Children, operates and totally funds three of these schools and partially funds the other facilities. The children range in age from three to teens. Some are physically or mentally challenged. Some are talented and determined to escape the slums in which they live.
Rosalie tells her teachers, “Love the children first. If you love them, they will learn.” Striking a child is forbidden in an ETC school.
Read more ...
Preyrona 1 is an ETC vocational school girls learn sewing and computer skills.
Atmaraksha is a one-room school for which ETC pays teacher salaries, provides hot food, and buys holiday clothing for 50 children.
Preyrona 2 is a one-room school for children 5 to 15.
Revelations from the Road
October 11, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta (known in India as Kolkata)
This city is my principal destination on this 7.5-month journey. I’m here to help Rosalie Giffoniello craft a book, Reclaiming Lives, about her work with underprivileged children in Calcutta’s slums. Rosalie’s U.S.-based nonprofit is Empower The Children (ETC).
New stories about traveling from Leh/Ladakh to McLeodGanj are now on my web site. The first story, about the infamous Leh-Manali Highway, went up in early September; the rest of that page is new. The photos of Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples and holy people in the spiritual community of Rewalsar are intriguing. Read more ...
A magazine article about young people helping residents of Leh/Ladakh rebuild their homes and lives after a killer flood roared through there a year ago appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Calcutta Scenes:
Saturday, September 17: In this city of 16 million (2001 stat), Howrah Train Station contains 24 passenger platforms. Easily 20,000 people are coming and going at any given time.
Sunday, September 18: The population density in Calcutta is an astounding 25,000 people per square kilometer (2001 stat). The sidewalks are impossible with pedestrians and vendors.
Monday, September 19: The monsoon dumps rain for nearly two hours. The water on the narrow street around Rosalie’s flat is ankle deep. The open-air public toilet, used by most of the people in this ‘hood, regurgitates previous deposits.
Read more ...
October 11, 2011
Greetings from Calcutta (known in India as Kolkata)
This city is my principal destination on this 7.5-month journey. I’m here to help Rosalie Giffoniello craft a book, Reclaiming Lives, about her work with underprivileged children in Calcutta’s slums. Rosalie’s U.S.-based nonprofit is Empower The Children (ETC).
New stories about traveling from Leh/Ladakh to McLeodGanj are now on my web site. The first story, about the infamous Leh-Manali Highway, went up in early September; the rest of that page is new. The photos of Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh temples and holy people in the spiritual community of Rewalsar are intriguing. Read more ...
A magazine article about young people helping residents of Leh/Ladakh rebuild their homes and lives after a killer flood roared through there a year ago appears in the current issue of Encore magazine. Read article (page 40) ...
Calcutta Scenes:
Saturday, September 17: In this city of 16 million (2001 stat), Howrah Train Station contains 24 passenger platforms. Easily 20,000 people are coming and going at any given time.
Sunday, September 18: The population density in Calcutta is an astounding 25,000 people per square kilometer (2001 stat). The sidewalks are impossible with pedestrians and vendors.
Monday, September 19: The monsoon dumps rain for nearly two hours. The water on the narrow street around Rosalie’s flat is ankle deep. The open-air public toilet, used by most of the people in this ‘hood, regurgitates previous deposits.
Read more ...
Above: A toddler plays in sand that will later be used to mix concrete for a sidewalk repair project. Two women laborers, dressed in colorful saris, watch.
Below: A Calcutta laborer stands barefoot to mix concrete. The blue structure is a food stand, partially blocking the sidewalk, at which Indian meals are prepared and served.
Below: A Calcutta laborer stands barefoot to mix concrete. The blue structure is a food stand, partially blocking the sidewalk, at which Indian meals are prepared and served.
Revelations from the Road
September 7, 2011
Greetings from McleodGanj, India, where I attended teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama last week.
The recent journey included a precious meal experience with an auto (gas rickshaw) driver and his family of six in their one-room home, dining on their floor/bed, in Delhi; a meal with Hindus along the road from Delhi to Manali; and an unexpected experience in a Himalayan dhaba on the spectacular, ever-treacherous Leh-Manali Highway. Read more ...
The return from Leh to Manali involved an unexpected trek down the side of a mountain due to a rock slide and the unusual privilege of riding in the bus cab with the driver and his assistant. Read more ...
In Leh, young NGO volunteers are helping Ladakhis rebuild one-room, mud-brick homes destroyed by a devastating killer flood in August 2010. More importantly, local merchants I met there last year -- one week before the flood -- are, with one exception, okay. Read more ...
September 7, 2011
Greetings from McleodGanj, India, where I attended teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama last week.
The recent journey included a precious meal experience with an auto (gas rickshaw) driver and his family of six in their one-room home, dining on their floor/bed, in Delhi; a meal with Hindus along the road from Delhi to Manali; and an unexpected experience in a Himalayan dhaba on the spectacular, ever-treacherous Leh-Manali Highway. Read more ...
The return from Leh to Manali involved an unexpected trek down the side of a mountain due to a rock slide and the unusual privilege of riding in the bus cab with the driver and his assistant. Read more ...
In Leh, young NGO volunteers are helping Ladakhis rebuild one-room, mud-brick homes destroyed by a devastating killer flood in August 2010. More importantly, local merchants I met there last year -- one week before the flood -- are, with one exception, okay. Read more ...
"Hand-i-workers" maintain the Leh-Manali Highway amid spectacular Himalayan vistas.
Architecture volunteers help rebuild homes in Leh.
Revelations from the Road
August 12, 2011 -- Leh, India
Greetings from the Himalayas, the community of Leh/ Ladakh, where a flood killed more than 200 people one year ago.
A week before that flood, I was here, visiting a Tibetan Children’s Village and conversing with merchants on life topics far beyond the sale of merchandise. Initial good news: the merchants survived and volunteers are building homes for displaced families. More later.
On paradisiacal Kauai, Toby Christensen, the Healing Drummer, provided unique music experiences, while Danny Hashimoto, tour guide extraordinaire and the Dao of cacao, took me frolicking with dolphins, hiking a mountain ridge, and to hear the Prime Minister of the Lawful Kingdom of Hawai'i advocate Hawaiian sovereignty. Read more...
In Manila, my lodging was a non-government organization facility recommended by a friend of a friend. The location was 1.5 hours from the airport, but, fortuitously, my taxi driver lives nearby. I accepted his invitation to visit his family in a squatter settlement. Read more...
August 12, 2011 -- Leh, India
Greetings from the Himalayas, the community of Leh/ Ladakh, where a flood killed more than 200 people one year ago.
A week before that flood, I was here, visiting a Tibetan Children’s Village and conversing with merchants on life topics far beyond the sale of merchandise. Initial good news: the merchants survived and volunteers are building homes for displaced families. More later.
On paradisiacal Kauai, Toby Christensen, the Healing Drummer, provided unique music experiences, while Danny Hashimoto, tour guide extraordinaire and the Dao of cacao, took me frolicking with dolphins, hiking a mountain ridge, and to hear the Prime Minister of the Lawful Kingdom of Hawai'i advocate Hawaiian sovereignty. Read more...
In Manila, my lodging was a non-government organization facility recommended by a friend of a friend. The location was 1.5 hours from the airport, but, fortuitously, my taxi driver lives nearby. I accepted his invitation to visit his family in a squatter settlement. Read more...
Robert Weir hangs out on the trapeze of a catamaran on Hanalei Bay. -- Photo by Danny Hashimoto
The staff at PhilDHRRA weather a monsoon to wish me farewell.
Revelations from the Road
July 23, 2011
The Buddhist initiation ceremony of Kalachakra in Washington, D.C., is complete. The last day, July 16, featured a long-life ceremony for the Dalai Lama and dissolution of the colorful sand mandala. His Holiness also had a closed-door meeting at the White House with President Obama on that day.
The mandala, a temporary work of art painstakingly crafted by Tibetan monks early in the ritual, was extremely colorful: red, white, black, green, gold, and blue. It served as the visual cornerstone. Then, on the final day, it was swept into one pile. When blended, the diverse colors made one color: gray.
This transformation symbolizes that our external human differences ... body features, ethnicity, nationality, religious orientation ... are insignificant compared to our deeper, spiritual sameness. Read new Kalachakra stories.
July 23, 2011
The Buddhist initiation ceremony of Kalachakra in Washington, D.C., is complete. The last day, July 16, featured a long-life ceremony for the Dalai Lama and dissolution of the colorful sand mandala. His Holiness also had a closed-door meeting at the White House with President Obama on that day.
The mandala, a temporary work of art painstakingly crafted by Tibetan monks early in the ritual, was extremely colorful: red, white, black, green, gold, and blue. It served as the visual cornerstone. Then, on the final day, it was swept into one pile. When blended, the diverse colors made one color: gray.
This transformation symbolizes that our external human differences ... body features, ethnicity, nationality, religious orientation ... are insignificant compared to our deeper, spiritual sameness. Read new Kalachakra stories.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaches compassion at the Kalachakra initiation to the Buddhist traditions.
Revelations from the Road
July 15, 2011
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his 76th birthday, Kalachakra for World Peace. Parades, song, dance, chant, meditation, an intricate sand mandala. A peace message on the Capitol West Lawn, emceed by Whoopi Goldberg. Empowerment of Buddhist students. A long-life ceremony for His Holiness.
This is the scene in Washington, D.C., where about 7,000 people are either taking, retaking, or considering taking vows to follow Buddhist practices that utilize subtle energies within the body lead to enlightenment. Read more.
An evening at the Lincoln Center in New York City produced strong responses to a powerful performance of War Horse and a marriage proposal. Read more.
Intentionality was the message of my departing message to friends at Unity Church of Kalamazoo where I delivered the Sunday service on the day of my departure on this journey. Read more.
July 15, 2011
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his 76th birthday, Kalachakra for World Peace. Parades, song, dance, chant, meditation, an intricate sand mandala. A peace message on the Capitol West Lawn, emceed by Whoopi Goldberg. Empowerment of Buddhist students. A long-life ceremony for His Holiness.
This is the scene in Washington, D.C., where about 7,000 people are either taking, retaking, or considering taking vows to follow Buddhist practices that utilize subtle energies within the body lead to enlightenment. Read more.
An evening at the Lincoln Center in New York City produced strong responses to a powerful performance of War Horse and a marriage proposal. Read more.
Intentionality was the message of my departing message to friends at Unity Church of Kalamazoo where I delivered the Sunday service on the day of my departure on this journey. Read more.
The Dalai Lama speaks to a throng on the U.S. Capitol West Lawn days after his 76th birthday in July 2011.
Revelations from the Road
June 2, 2011
My upcoming international journey will be for professional, spiritual, and humanitarian purposes.
Destinations: New Jersey, New York, D.C., Hawaii, Philippines, Himalayas, and Kolkata (Calcutta), India.
Highlights: advise clients who are authoring books, attend teachings by the Dalai Lama, and aid slum-dwelling, disadvantaged children.
Departures: from Michigan June 27; from U.S. July 28. Return:February 2012.
Please offer prayers for all people, look for occasional emails, and find stories and photos on my web site. Peace be in you ...
June 2, 2011
My upcoming international journey will be for professional, spiritual, and humanitarian purposes.
Destinations: New Jersey, New York, D.C., Hawaii, Philippines, Himalayas, and Kolkata (Calcutta), India.
Highlights: advise clients who are authoring books, attend teachings by the Dalai Lama, and aid slum-dwelling, disadvantaged children.
Departures: from Michigan June 27; from U.S. July 28. Return:February 2012.
Please offer prayers for all people, look for occasional emails, and find stories and photos on my web site. Peace be in you ...
August 2010 - May 2011
Oneness Awareness
From April through July of this year (2010), I traveled to Barbados, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Germany, Russia, and India.
The journey included sailing voyages across the Atlantic and on the Aegean, Black, and Baltic seas.
In all places where I visited, I saw evidence of the universal connectivity that all of us share, regardless of where we were born, live, journey from or to.
I'm currently in my home state of Michigan, USA, writing stories that will appear on this web site and PowerPoint presentations for public programs.
Oneness Awareness
From April through July of this year (2010), I traveled to Barbados, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Germany, Russia, and India.
The journey included sailing voyages across the Atlantic and on the Aegean, Black, and Baltic seas.
In all places where I visited, I saw evidence of the universal connectivity that all of us share, regardless of where we were born, live, journey from or to.
I'm currently in my home state of Michigan, USA, writing stories that will appear on this web site and PowerPoint presentations for public programs.
