Between Two Souls: Conversations with Ryokan

to be followed by a careful reading of Friar Leonardo Boff's Praying With Jesus And Mary: Our Father, Hail Mary. Eloquently, ephemerally, eternally embracingly reminiscent of the fine work by Father Merton examining this same rich field of deep soil and open heart, such as Mystics and Zen Masters and Zen and the Birds of Appetite., yet here we may hear the interplay across the centuries of two contemplative souls in conversation, one Catholic, the other Buddhist, seeking peace in compassion and the end of suffering. As Ryokan writes: "Oh, that my monk's robe were wide enough to embrace the suffering of the world." Herein lies the essence of Christian monasticism and Passion of the Christ, who cries, "Jerusalem, how long have I longed to gather you beneath my wings like a hen her chicks." Here we may learn to access the depths of our own Catholic contemplative heart, spirit and soul. While the men of the hour angrily battle over individual words and purposeful misunderstandings, these holy and contemplative women like Sister Mary Lou and Sister Joan in silent prayer, call us back to the one eternal and universal God whom we worship. Like the Martha and Mary dichotomy, they have chosen the "better part" and lead us gently, quietly back home.

At first, the magic of this book will be seen in the idea of building a relationship between a Zen monk of 19th century Japan, and a contemporary Benedictine (USA) nun through the 'exchange' of poems. They are the alternating voices in this unusual dialogue, one that needs to be read at a measured pace. In the introduction of "Between Two Souls" Joan Chittister, herself of the Benedictine order, says this book calls all of us . . "out of our daily selves and into the monastery of the heart." The book's author, Mary Lou Kownacki, explains that she used the poems of RYOKAN as her "lectio" - - a holy reading used daily for meditation (see also isbn #0835808068//Norvene Vest's "Gathered in the Word") in the hope of 'catching' the extravagant heart of the man who wrote: "Oh, that my monk's robe were wide enough to embrace the suffering of the world." In some poems the readers may question undercurrents of passion, yet it can be argued that you cannot have life without passion. Arresting calligraphy is provided by Eri Takase's strong brushstrokes. All of this needs to be savored as a Feast, including this brief 'exchange' of Haiku: Ryokan: Left behind by the thief the moon in the window. Kownacki: Some mistake - This old lady's skin I wash Pretends it is mine. The key to the deepest enjoyment, the richest extraction of guidance, is to meditate on each poem or phrase, and find your own path to approaching Life in a non-violent way. Ryokan said "..... if you don't write of things deep inside your own heart, What's the use of churning out so many words?" is answered by Kownacki: "My poems are simple, ..... But like stone soup/The broth is clear/And there is a center." Later she says: "It is a time of great poverty and violence in the land, Yet day after day we write verses and raise a toast....." Can I do less than raise a toast to these two voices? And urge everyone to read their words and discover which poems enter your hearts to do their work. "Cheers" says Reviewer mcHaiku.