The wisdom tradition of Buddhism has influenced
many American poets, including Gary Snyder,
Jane Hirshfield, and Sam Hamill. In Start Again,
Dignity, Laurence Musgrove traces through verse
his study of Buddhism, meditation, and
mindfulness in the relatively isolated expanses of
West Texas. With no retreat centers or meditation
teachers nearby, he documents his spiritual
journey in original sutras, calling into dialogue the
imagined persona of the Buddha. These poems
address many of the foundational truths of
Buddhist study, including impermanence, human
suffering, and selflessness. They also show an
established professor and student of Buddhism
struggling to develop and maintain a meditation
practice, sustained and generous attention, and a
fearless engagement with a beautifully imperfect
world.
The wisdom tradition of Buddhism has influenced
many American poets, including Gary Snyder,
Jane Hirshfield, and Sam Hamill. In Start Again,
Dignity, Laurence Musgrove traces through verse
his study of Buddhism, meditation, and
mindfulness in the relatively isolated expanses of
West Texas. With no retreat centers or meditation
teachers nearby, he documents his spiritual
journey in original sutras, calling into dialogue the
imagined persona of the Buddha. These poems
address many of the foundational truths of
Buddhist study, including impermanence, human
suffering, and selflessness. They also show an
established professor and student of Buddhism
struggling to develop and maintain a meditation
practice, sustained and generous attention, and a
fearless engagement with a beautifully imperfect
world.