Once Joe, Terry and I were in the Met at a painting exhibition of the Renaissance and Joe said, “You are my heroes.” I don’t know what he was talking about, maybe Terry was worthy of that but in any case Joe’s main law for us was not to kill. That’s it. Not kill.

I recently was given informally the Vipassana precepts which are much lighter than Zen’s. I also think when we think of the Zen precepts we can’t ignore the Four Vows. Also what does it mean, “I vow to save all sentient beings”? Is it missionary type service like teaching the Zen techniques of mind or is this also feeding, providing water, and curing illness? I think it’s both. Helga thought it was marching and demonstrating for Peace ☮️ and more. We did some of that with her(especially Joe did) and others and still do things of that nature ‘tho’ I’m softer with age. Helga was never soft from age(that I knew)!

I used to think Sokei-An was the first Buddhist teacher in the US but I was reminded, it was his teacher who was, in Lion’s Roar magazine.

I think I’m at least the age Joe was when I met him if not older. But not yet the age he died. I felt him speak to me this morning. So hi, Joe