Phyllis Cole-Dai is a writer, editor, composer, and activist who unites her deep love of the arts with a passion for humanitarian service. Her work is driven by a profound desire to help create a more peaceable and equitable world, viewing the arts as vital to our ability to survive and grow. Through her diverse creative output, which spans poetry, prose, and music, she explores themes of presence and compassion, often drawing on personal experiences. Her writing and music are described as deeply emotional and visionary, resonating with readers and listeners on a profound level.
Challenging the notion of self-help literature, the book presents a candid exploration of personal growth without the usual promises of transformation. It engages readers with humor and honesty, encouraging them to embrace the imperfections of life rather than seek unattainable ideals. By focusing on realistic expectations and the acceptance of one's flaws, it offers a refreshing perspective on self-improvement that prioritizes authenticity over dramatic change.
August 18, 1862. On the Sioux reservation in southwestern Minnesota, Indians desperate for food and freedom rise up against whites in the region. Sarah Wakefield, the wife of a physician, is taken captive with her two babies. Their fate falls into the hands of the warrior Caske, with whom she has slim acquaintance. As war rages, little does she know how entwined their lives will become. Beneath the Same Stars is the gripping story of two people, caught between worlds, who are willing to do almost anything to defend those they care about--including each other. But the drama is bigger than themselves. Tragic forces have been set in motion...
In 1999 Phyllis Cole-Dai and James Murray lived by choice on the streets of Columbus, Ohio, the fifteenth-largest city in the United States. They went to the streets with a single intention: to be as present as possible to everyone we met, offering them sustained and nonjudgmental attention. Such attention is the heart of compassion. This book chronicles their streets experiences. It will thrust you out the door of your comfortable life, straight into the unknown. It will force you to confront what might happen to you, and who you might become, if suddenly you had no home. The meditative narrative is accompanied by pinhole photographs shot by James using cameras he constructed from trash. This is the third edition of the book, lightly edited. Though recounting events that occurred in 1999, it remains as relevant today as ever. An "eye-opening" and "life-changing" read! Read this book on its own or in the company of Practicing Presence: Insights from the Streets, which Phyllis wrote on the tenth anniversary of her time on the streets. Take your reading slow, perhaps one chapter per day, so you can absorb and reflect. If you happen to be Christian, you might consider using this book and Practicing Presence as companion resources during Lent and Holy Week, which served as a backdrop for Phyllis and James's experience. But you don't need to be a Christian to take this stumbling journey into practicing mindfulness on the streets. Just allow these forty-seven days to be for you what they were for Phyllis and James: a deep embrace of core values that human beings around the world have held in common for millennia. These values might best be articulated as questions: How do we treat others as we would have them treat us? How do we love our neighbors, including those who seem "alien" and "other?" How do we extend hospitality to strangers, allowing them an honored place among us? These age-old questions have no simple answers. We must seek to answer them daily with our lives. Get your free sampler of Phyllis's work when you join her mailing list at http: // subscribe.phylliscoledai.com/ . It includes music, poetry, spiritual nonfiction and historical fiction. You can also join her mailing list at http: // www.phylliscoledai.com . CATEGORIES FOR THIS BOOK: --spirituality --memoir --mindfulness --homelessness --Lent & Holy Week --social conscience --engaged Buddhism
This follow-up volume to the immensely popular Poetry of Presence presents a feast of mindfulness poems. The poems are skillfully crafted and highly accessible. Its authors speak from a rich variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and life-paths. Most are contemporary or recent poets. Many of the poems delve into relational or social mindfulness, exploring "the tough stuff" of living among others with presence. These poems invite us to face relational challenges without turning away from them. They encourage us to seek equanimity, and to address challenges with compassion, hope, courage, and humility.
The book explores the concept of "emergency," delving into its deeper meanings and implications. It highlights the significance of the word "emerge," suggesting that within crises, opportunities for growth and transformation can arise. Through thought-provoking insights, the narrative encourages readers to reflect on how emergencies can lead to new beginnings and understanding, making it a compelling read for those interested in personal development and resilience.