Today feels like April: gentle air, steady patter of rain on the pavement outside, quiet possibility, a change of pace. Although I can never quite tell for certain until I start writing, my sense is that today will be slower, more languid, and a little more introspective. I like to get into my rhythm by knitting and watching stupid right-wing drama, then I'll move into the work in the early afternoon. I'll start with my non-OPWC posts today to ensure that I get a few off my

OPWC Ch.11  –December 18, 2025, 10:01 pm to 10:42 pm Gestational time measured in musical time: during Yasodhara’s pregnancy, Siddhartha plays his flute beneath the moonlight and listens to it echo in the ether around him. When she goes into labor, gender divisions sharpen; only the women can attend her, while Siddhartha sits outside the door anxiously and listens to the whole birthing process. YIKES. No wonder they only end up having one kid! Here’s the relevant passage, wo

OWPC Ch. 10 – December 18, 2025, 8:07 to 8:42 pm  The womb and the tomb are inextricably linked—maybe through the practice of daily meditation. This is the gist of what I’ve learned from Chapters 10 and 11, so I’ll be writing responses to them in quick succession and approaching them as a two-part post.  First, Siddhartha follows up re: his concern about the sustainability of Yasodhara’s work. One day, calling her by a nickname, Gopa (no idea where the hell that comes from),

Building Trust on “The Path of Compassion”  OPWC Ch. 9 – December 18, 5:58 to 6:46 pm How do you build trust in a relationship—whether new or old, in the process of construction or reconstruction? We couldn’t have better teachers in our newlyweds, Siddhartha and Yasodhara, so let’s dive straight into the text.  The couple marry in a truly magnificent-sounding wedding with lots of bright colors, delicious foods, excessive pageantry, and all the signifiers of luxury. Similarly