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Tales from the Sangha

A Prescription for Murder (#1)

A Phoenix cardiologist is the perfect choice to be framed for murder. She believes, as do all unenlightened souls, that she needs the society of other people. What she needs to learn is not to have friends, but to be friendly to everyone. But that spiritual state is a long way from where she finds herself. She distrusts Mexico’s legal system and she trusts friends from home who are known as reputable persons of integrity. Her misjudgments are now her biggest problems.

The Party

Yin Ts’ao, in his own inimitable way, has personalized man’s essential conflict with the material world and all its spurious values. His setting is the home of newlyweds and his instrument of rejection is alcohol and maybe a few drugs. Welcome to “The Party”.

The Money Lender (#8)

The Blumenthals reach the limit of desperation as they seek to stop Harold’s conversion and get his wedding to Rebecca annulled. Stella is held captive. Harold’s new friendship with Rabbi Cohen quickly bears fruit. Harold, wondering what he will do with his life, sees the possibilities of converting his ranch to a “Mystic’s Motel and teaching center.” Rabbi Cohen has inspired him to extend spiritual guidance and refuge to others as he, Harold, has found it himself.

The Money Lender (#7)

Tim devises a way to get revenge, while Joshua schemes to get a prized surfboard and escape to tropical waters. Stella has to face the ugly truth about a lover’s promises, and Harold prepares to take religion seriously.

The Money Lender (#6)

As Tim’s life worsens because of the lies told about him, he decided to take his revenge. But that will not relieve him of having to pay the debt. Without law, there is no order. How is he then to get justice?

The Money Lender (#5)

The Murphys find extra work to pay the money they do not owe. Aaron recovers with profound resentment at Rebecca’s family who blame him for the accident; and Joshua cleverly finds a way to ingratiate himself with the Zen Abbot by spreading cedar chips to eliminate the dust.

The Money Lender (#4)

Mobsters can threaten in the most polite ways. Tim learns that he must pay interest on top of the principal stolen by someone else. But Joshua hides out in a Zen Center as Charlene tries to learn who is behind Tim’s frame-up. And the Dharma contest has everyone on edge.

The Money Lender (#3)

Aaron and Rebecca learn the hard way that just because a machine is easy to operate, anyone can operate it without training and respect for the bike and the terrain. It is a mistake one of them will live to regret. Tim learns how easily an innocent person can be set up to take the fall for another’s crime.

The Money Lender (#2)

Aaron tries to make the most of being forced into marriage and Tim has no idea of the evil events that are about to entangle him. Each man must find a way to extricate himself from deaths that are accidental or planned.

The Money Lender (#1)

Whether we like it or not, religion finds its way into our lives to justify or condemn any action we take. In The Money Lender two separate crimes and two different religions graze each other in two separate cities are explored. Good masquerades as evil, and evil puts on the face of good.

The Woods (#5)

How does a slightly worn-out experienced man of limited means compete with a young and spoiled cosmopolitan heir. Not easily. In the final section of The Woods, Ming Zhen Shakya (Anthony Wolff) gives yet another example of there being no substitute for experience.

The Woods (#4)

The Standoff continues. Beryl will not drive into probable danger. She knows that it will be easier for George to find her on the one road that leads down the ravine, than it will be for her to locate George and the others in the endless woods, assuming they are even alive. Lilyanne takes matters into her own hands and forces unexpected reactions.