a voice in the night

December 14th, 2014

41Jec+cLZXLMomma Zen is now available as an audiobook, read by me. Here’s a chance to win a free copy for yourself or a friend.

I can’t remember writing this book. I can’t remember what I wrote. But I can remember the moment when I began to write. I had never written in my own name before. The moment of birth went like this:

Me to my husband: I need a laptop!
Him: Okay.
Me: I need to go away and write!
Him: Okay.
Me: I’m going to write a book!
Him Okay.

The labor, as all labors, continued for quite a long time after, in every kind of circumstance. It was years before I had a sense of what I had done and, more to the point, who had done it. I can see that Momma Zen is not really like the books I’ve written since. One reason is that it reflects my maturity as a Zen student, mother, and writer at the time, which were all three nil. I used to wonder how in the world I had pulled it off. Now I think I know.

These are my mother’s words, after she died, reaching beyond time and space to console me in my darkest hours. When I read these words I see her and feel her; when I hear them I am her. How comforting her voice in the dark, reminding me that I am not alone. Now, how comforting my voice in the dark, reminding you that you are not alone.

Bring yourself into the fold by leaving a comment on this post. I will be awarding several free copies of the new audiobook to commenters next Sunday, the darkest night of the year.

57 Comments »

  1. Would love to bring this type of insight into my relationship with my 3 amazing grandchildren.

    Comment by marian — December 17, 2014 @ 6:52 am

  2. I bought your book years ago after having the privilege to see you give a talk at Stanford. What an inspiring source and a reminder of the infinite peace in mothering our kids.

    Comment by Liliana — December 17, 2014 @ 1:26 pm

  3. Your books have all been on my list to read, this one particularly. I could use it right about now, with the busyness of the holiday season, that’s for sure. And I have to say, I also loved your post, Who turns. It’s breathtaking, really.

    Comment by Allison S. — December 18, 2014 @ 6:42 pm

  4. Having you even closer would be amazing.

    Comment by Ranya — December 19, 2014 @ 7:22 am

  5. I’ve been missing my mother lately, even though it’s been over 30 years since she died. I’m very interested to see what this book holds, for myself as a grandmother as well as for my daughter. And absolutely yes, your voice is so comforting! Thank you for being so generous with your teachings.

    Comment by Ann O. — December 20, 2014 @ 7:55 pm

  6. This was the book that brought you into my world. So for me it was a birth of sorts.Now of course I’ll have to have to listen to your words. Like so many before hav

    Comment by daisy marsahll — December 23, 2014 @ 12:11 pm

  7. said, this book is a wonderful tool to remind us all how to keep on mothering ourselves. Wonder if we’re ever done?Thank you Karen

    Comment by daisy marsahll — December 23, 2014 @ 12:14 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

archives by month