Tasting Phenomena

The Writings of Nancy Lay (Dechen) Duncan

Bio

I live
on a high ridge on a sunny property
in Lompico
and often dwell
between here
and in-between.
I try to articulate in words
what can’t be expressed
and paint what can’t be seen.
My palette is rich.
I don’t run out
of inspiration.
I was born in Mississippi
years ago
and was flavored by restrictions
of thought and custom that
smelled of magnolias
full of grief, emotional upheavel, being kicked by a mule
and many childhood delights such as skinny dipping in creeks.
I lived in New York for one year after college, then lived in Mexico for awhile.
After that I moved from New Orleans to San Francisco
in my first car, a VW
that broke down on Highway 1 while singing
God Bless America (the coast was so beautiful).
Then I lived in the Haight-Ashbury, then Tomales, and
then Tassajara for a year.
Two travels to India, one across the continent by bus.
In Dharamsala I wrote No Film In The Camera.
After that Tibetan Buddhist study became central,
I met many accomplished teachers and lived in France four years to do
three year retreat. For a long time after that I have practiced and ripened
with both great joy and many sufferings.