Richard St. Clair

I am a modern renaissance man. I sometimes compose music, I perform music, I have my music performed. I write poetry and occasionally read my poetry in front of people. I am also an administrative assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

I study Buddhism as the crux of my life's search for meaning. I am a human being: flawed but trying. I am a survivor of sexual and ritual abuse. I spend a lot of my time recovering from abuse and sharing my recovery with others similarly engaged in recovery. Buddha Dharma has put a unique perspective on the negative aspects and "misfortunes" of my life.

Every human being is a window to the truth: everyone has a profound story to tell if given the time and opportunity. We need to know how to read people better, ourselves most of all. That means not imposing our beliefs even when we feel sure we are right. Only free minds can make right choices.

I am an incurable optimist. Which is not to say that I do not get depressed, angry, and sad. But optimism is like an air cushion for me: whenever I go under, it pulls me back up the surface and keeps me from drowning in sorrow and pain.

My educational background includes an A.B. in Music from Harvard College in 1969, an A.M. in Music Composition from Harvard University in 1973, and a PhD in Music Composition from Harvard University in 1978. But that is my formal education. My real education has been from other people, from music, from nature, and from the Buddha-Dharma.


 


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Last modified: 16 August 2006