Ann Setko Iversen
Potter
Vancouver, Washington
“I listen to the sounds of nature and follow its suggestions in daily life. The whole universe is one nonstop motion of flowing time that all things are subject to. We’re born, and decay. What a fuss. The use of anti-aging cream, if such a thing exists, seems a wasteful effort in my opinion.”
Rosemary Bakker
Interior Designer
New York, New York
“‘Therefore, Sariputra, in emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no formation, no consciousness; no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no appearance…’ and no anti-aging cream.”
Helen Powell
Retired Psychotherapist
Camarillo, California
“I’m 72 and I’m asking you what that has to do with Buddhism.”
Joan Hoeberichts
Management Consultant
Ridgewood, New Jersey
“Why not? As a Buddhist I still like to look good.”
Suzie Hoathi Kilichowski
Hair Accessories Company Owner
Brooklyn, New York
“We believe in the power of Buddha, so we don’t use any cream. Sometimes lipstick or eye shadow.”
Aviva Scully
Expresso Bar Owner
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
“I suppose as Americans we can prevent looking like we’re aging. But we can’t prevent the reality of old age, sickness, and death.”
Jisho Cary Warner
Soto Zen Priest
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Why is this not funny, why is this not cute? Why is the trivialization of aging beginningless and endless?”
Yun Yohe
Sweater Designer
New York, New York
“Everybody in Korea uses lotions. Even the monks. Except, of course, they avoid ones with animal fat.”
Nicolee Jikyo Miller
Soto Zen Priest and Therapist
Encinitas, California
“Why not? Honoring the body as a vessel of life, one tends to it like a beloved plant, coaxing the maximum beauty, while respecting its natural cycles.”
Laura Simms
Storyteller
New York, New York
“Actually, I’m getting a massage right now. Can I call you back?”
Agnes Au
Sportswear Company Co-owner and Designer
New York, New York
“My understanding is that illusion, and even creating illusion, need not be a problem, unless one buys into it. As practitioners, it seems best to contemplate the inner meaning of a situation before we decide on the appropriate outer discipline.”
Sylvia Bercovici
Psychotherapist and Teacher
Los Angeles and Idyllwild, California
“It’s all right to want to use something like ‘anti-aging cream,’ as long as you don’t take it too seriously. I also think it’s all right not to use ‘anti-aging cream,’ as long as you don’t take that too seriously either. “
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