Member Profile

Mary Grace (MG) Bertulfo is a ZLMC Practicing Member. She was born in Virginia on a U.S. naval base. Her father was a navyman and mother was a nurse. Being in the military and serving as a nurse were ways for my parents to immigrate to the United States and become citizens. You'll often see her at Sunday Morning Zen. She shared this about herself.

MG Bertulfo: My parents are from the Philippines (Quezon and Pangasinan) and we have a large extended family on both sides. I grew up with mylolo and lolas(grandparents) living with us, my aunts and uncles nearby, and lots of cousins. We are very close and I owe my sense of family closeness (pakikisama), generosity, and the practice of feeding everyone from them. Now, I live in Oak Park with my husband, Alan Schwartz, our son Ari, and two fluffy dogs. We're all pretty scruffy and have long hair.

I have a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Women's Studies and a concentration in Asian American Studies from UCLA. I went on to do an MA in Cultural Anthropology at UC Berkeley.

Early during my academic career, I thought of becoming a professor, a journalist, or an activist. I wanted to do something that engaged my spirit in a whole-hearted way.

Deep down, I had known since I was a child that I was a writer. But the kind of writing I really wanted to do was creative: fiction and poetry.

I spent many years grappling with the question of whether artists should even make money from their art. Reading about right livelihood helped me understand my creative work in a way that was more compassionate and practical.

There is a spiritual value of artistic work, which I think is impossible to measure. And there is market value. I've learned that these valuations can co-exist side by side.

I was very fortunate to have known author N.V.M. Gonzalez, one of the founders of modern Philippine literature. He was a great mentor to all of us and challenged me to push myself as a writer.

My short stories, poetry, and essays have been published in anthologies like Growing Up Filipino II, Remembering Rizal, and City of the Big Shoulders.

I have written, as a journalist, conservation features and profiles for Chicago Wilderness Magazine and Sierra Club and a video script teaching kids about indigenous rainforest communities.

My short story, "The Community Builder" was recently awarded first place in the Oak Parker Magazine's 2015 Short Fiction Contest. I am adapting the story for a stage reading and collaboration with the band Nine Miles West and choreographer Gina Sigismondi of Momenta. (We'll be performing on Aug 22nd at Open Door Theater.)

I am currently working on a historical novel set in the sixteenth century Philippines about women shaman who resist Magellan's invasion of the islands in 1521.

Through my company, Taleblazers, I also teach creative writing to kids at Calypso Moon Studio in the Oak Park Arts District.

Writing is my passion. It is like breathing. I can't live well without it.

June Tanoue: What is your spiritual practice?

MG: This is a very tough question. I was raised as a Filipino Catholic. I married my best friend, who is Jewish. I dabbled in meditation off and on for a couple of years in graduate school and have been an ardent reader and admirer of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama and have read some of the Buddha's teachings. I belonged to the OP Friends Meeting
(Quakers) for a few years.

I mentioned to you, June, that I once started a pretentious journal in college entitled, "My Spiritual Journey". It was a white journal with small violets on the covers. I thought I had something important to say. The pages remained blank for many years. LOL

I decided a couple of years ago to give up trying to label or categorize my spirituality because I am drawn to many practices: Filipino indigenous practices (like remembering our ancestors and revering nature), meditation, yoga, prayer, walking mindfully, dancing, singing, Shabbat dinners at our house and keeping kosher and celebrating Passover, labyrinths, and reading Buddhist stories.

Writing, when engaged whole-heartedly, is a deep spiritual practice for me. I have been much happier since I decided not to label my practice and to just do it.

June: What drew you to ZLMC?

MG: When your "practice" is so eclectic, it's difficult to find a spiritual community. ZLMC is so open, warm, and genuine. I first heard about it through you, June, when taking your hula class. I was impressed that hula and Hawai'ian traditions were celebrated and accepted as part of ZLMC.

Mark Gelula is a colleague of my husband's at UIC and he and Pat Bloom reached out to me and invited me to meditate and listen to a dharma talk. It was a very open-handed, light invitation. Everyone has been so welcoming.

I have long been searching for a community that can embrace eclectic practices, but also go deep and be grounded.

Meditating together every Sunday has been a blessing in my life. ZLMC has become that community for me and I am very grateful!

June: How has it helped you?

MG: I am finishing Robert's Primer Series and finally feel I am getting foundational teachings in how (and why) to meditate. This has been very helpful because I have wanted to become more consistent in my meditation practice.

Also, I want to not take everything so seriously! Not to be such a perfectionist about my spiritual practices, whatever they are. I find that you and Robert both have a very light touch when you teach...and this gives our community space to explore, make "mistakes", and just see for ourselves.

My spouse has told me on more than a few occasions that I am calmer in general, that my feathers don't get ruffled as easily. I find that the waves and disturbances that come at me are easier to wade, so my life feels more grounded.

I love that different traditions can co-exist side by side at the ZLMC. We are all learning from each other: through the dharma talks, aikido demonstrations, hula, reiki, Western psychology, Buddhist ceremonies, book discussions, circles, and retreats. The vibrance and inclusiveness are very nourishing.

Being able to meet with you in daisan on Sundays has been so helpful. Meeting with a sensei one on one about meditation has given me space to check-in on my sitting practice and is wonderful encouragement.