A 3-D slide show on YouTube

Sokkan - a short slide show

This is a short slide show of photographs I took and music I composed and played since the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. It is an offering in the spirit of making lemonade out of lemons.

The images for this slideshow were largely gleaned from an ongoing accumulation of photographs called "Pictures of Another Present Era." The title for this ongoing body of work was inspired by the groundbreaking transcultural jazz album "Music of Another Present Era," by the band Oregon released in 1972. This notion of "another present era," a moment once present, now past, yet continuously in the photograph is one of the most fascinating things about photography. This is not a series about something specific, but rather a body of images that came from a sensibility of mindful exploring with a camera with no particular aim except to enter a place of deep seeing so as to picture semi-abstractions of the everyday sublime. Simply to be present, observe, and translate that into a compelling image that invites the imagination to wonder is my offering. In the summer of 2024 I visited my old friend Jürg Zurmühle in Basel, Switzerland. Our mutual desire to rekindle a collaboration resulted in this slideshow, featuring Jürg's soundtrack and my photographic sequences. It was premiered at Cypress College for the opening night of my exhibition "Recent Offerings," October 3, 2024.

At the Otis Kite Festival, a video on YouTube

An online poetry journal curated by Neil Aitken. A couple of images by Ed Heckerman are included.

Photo-Eye Bookstore

Some original compositions for shakuhachi.

Picture Stories

This small collection of posts display a single photograph and a story.

Photographs are good at showing. Words are better at telling. Photographs show a lot of detail that words can scarcely compete with. That being said, photographs only show us one thin slice of time, one frame of space. We don’t know what happened before and after the shutter was released, nor do we know what appeared outside the frame.

The Buddha advised not to dwell on the past or anticipate the future, but rather be rooted in the present moment. However, he also said that if we want to understand where we are now, we have to examine the past. Just so, our actions now determine our future. With these thoughts in mind, I undertake the writing of these stories not out of nostalgia, or to prove anything academically, but as a way of holding and sharing what would otherwise be lost.

I am older now. These pictures were received, clarified, and offered by a much younger man. Through these words the older man seeks to unravel not just these confessional stories, but the myths the younger man told himself about what merited noticing and sharing in this all too brief of a life.

Southern California Region Yeshe Nyingpo was founded in 1983 by H.H Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Rinpoche. Back then it was known as Yeshe Nyingpo Los Angeles and was led by The Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, who was appointed by H.H as the center's Spiritual Director. In 1993, under the direction of Gyatrul Rinpoche, a corporation was formed under the name Souther California Region Yeshe Nyingpo. Since then the center has been maintained by devoted sangha members including:

+ David Johnson (1993 - 1996)
+ Suzanne Soehner (1996 - 1998)
+ Sondra Bennett

Currently the center is maintained and organized by Lopon Ed Heckerman, who is a student of H.H Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche and was appointed by him to look after the center in 1999. The center changed locations many times but has always remained in Santa Monica. It is now located at Lopon Ed and his wife Simone's residence: 1001 Harvard Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Over the years, SCRYN has hosted many visiting Lamas including:
+ Bhaka Tulku Rinpoche
+ The Venerable Yangtang Tulku
+ Sangye Khandro
+ Lama Tenzin Samphel
+ Tulku Thadral
+ Lama Jampa Thaye

Lake Born Tshoks and Khandro Thuk Thik Tshoks are performed regularly at the center. On Great Wheel Days, Shakyamuni Buddha Tshok is performed, along with freeing lives by releasing crickets in nearby mountains. Over the years, Lopon Ed has also given teachings on the Five Dhyani Buddha Yoga, Shi-ne (calm-abiding), the Concise Tersar Ngöndro, and Riwo Sang Chö.