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The Pymander in Latin

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PIMANDER I-XIV MERCVRII TRISMEGISTI LIBER DE POTESTA TE ET SAPIENTIA DEI PER MARSILIVM FICI NUM TRADVCTVS AD COSMVM MEDICEM. Tu quicunque es: qui haec legis. siue grammaticus: siue orator: seu philosophus: aut theologus: scito. Mercurius Trismegistus sum: quem singulari mea doctrina & theologica: aegypti prius & barbari: mox Christiani antiqui theologici: ingenti stupore attoniti admirati sunt. Quare si me emes: & leges: hoc tibi erit commodi: quod paruo aere comparatus summa re legentem uoluptate: & utilitate afficiam. Cum mea doctrina cuicunque aut mediocriter erudito: aut doctissimo placeat. parce oro: si uerum dicere non pudet: nec piget. Lege modo me: & fatebere non mentitum: sed si semel leges rursum releges: & caeteris consules: ut me emant: & legant. Bene Vale. Argumentum Marsilii Ficini florentini in Librum Mercurii Trismegisti: ad Cosmum Medicem Patriae Patrem. [e]O tempore: quo Moyses natus est: floruit Athlas astrologus Promethei physici frate...
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Meditating with my dad

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When I was growing up, in the morning my dad would meditate. As an adult I know I should clarify: he performed this particular "meditation", or exercise, or... I'm inclined to say "devotion". When I came of age and I was curious enough, I would sit with him for the beginning: "Auuuummmmmmmmmm". Then I would laugh and run away, and decide that my dad's word may be "Aummm" but my word is "Chah-kunnnngggg". Later, perhaps around 1984 after the divorce was put into process and I'd visit dad on weekends, and my ability to sit still on occasion began to develop, at the age of five, up in Sierra Madre Canyon, 81 Vista Circle Dr, in the master bedroom, at the window in the southwest corner of the room, facing westward out the window toward the back yard and the view of the canyon from up there, we would sit - he in front, me behind. The old Chinese dresser to our left, his bed (mattress on floor) to our right - the restroom...
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"The Stink of Zen"

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The title of this post is a reference to something Alan Watts wrote in his 1957 book, The Way of Zen . That is: "In studying or practicing Zen it is of no help to think about Zen. To remain caught up in ideas and words about Zen is, as the old masters say, to 'stink of Zen.'" First, another Alan Watts quote, which I would say myself at this point, but he has already said it so well that I must quote him instead: "I suppose most of you have heard of Zen. But before going on to explain any details about it, I want to make one thing absolutely clear: I am not a Zen Buddhist, I am not advocating Zen Buddhism, I am not trying to convert anyone to it. I have nothing to sell." That's the part I wanted to say at the offset here, but to continue his quote, he said: "I'm an entertainer. That is to say, in the same sense, that when you go to a concert and you listen to someone play Mozart, he has nothing to sell except the sound of the music. He d...
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