New Year's Greeting from Roshi Joan

 RantWoman is pretty sure a. she is not called to be a Buddhist and 2. she would be a terrible buddhist. Still RantWoman is grateful when something Buddhist-flavored deeply speaks to her condition.

quoting the Friend who forwarded the statement

"...I’ve learned from personal experience these last three years ...—both as a receiver and a giver of “bearing witness” how incredible, beyond words, bearing witness is—no expectations, no duties, no changing another person’s point of view, just being there for another—to experience connection—to both be a “giver/bearer" and “receiver” bearing witness goes--oh so deep—being seen, listened to…….to me is a gift beyond words. That’s one side, being the receiver. The “bearing” side—being present—without judgment, no fixing, no doing—just simply being there listening to the other (and to yourself—supporting staying present). Every single one of you receiving this e-mail have gifted “bearing witness” to me—I’m here tonight in this "deep place" as I try to put in words “what" there are no words for. "

Statement of Roshi Joan from the Upaya Zen Center