Faculty . Poet & Author
Robin Caton
My understanding of mind unfolds as I study and explore inwardly. One thing I've come to understand is that if I try to describe what 'mind is,' I've already gone in the wrong direction. That little 'is,' which appears to be a sign of equivalence, is so tricky! It reflects several underlying assumptions that may, or may not, be accurate: for example, that mind has definite characteristics that stay stable enough through time to be named, or that mind has a border such that we can point to something that is 'not mind.' Mind is more complex than the concepts we ordinarily rely on. To explore mind is possible. To describe our understanding may require an entirely new form of language.
On the classes I teach
A short introduction in Robin’s own words the questions his courses explore and what students can expect. Watch more at Dharma-College.org.
A few reflections from Robin
What first drew you to explore your inner life?
I grew up in New York City where encounters with nature were rare. One summer my family spent several weeks at the seashore. I remember looking up one night and being amazed at how many stars there were. I suddenly felt so insignificant! Who was I in relation to this immense and indifferent universe? It seemed that I was not so special after all the sky would be blue and then gray, the rain would fall, the stars would be visible at night whether I was here or not. And yet I was here! And my being here, too, had nothing to do with ‘me’ but with something much bigger than myself biology or luck or God, whatever it might be. Did my life matter? Was I here for a reason? Exploring my inner life became a way to try to answer these questions.
What are you currently curious about or investigating?
Oh my! I’m curious about so many aspects of mind and awareness: how our sense of self keeps bouncing back, how we become commited to certain beliefs and not others, how we distinguish belief from knowledge, and knowing from not-knowing. I’ve been dealing with a serious medical situation lately that’s led me to explore the question, ‘who dies?
What is one insight that has stayed with you over time?
That there is an openness at the heart of being, beyond language but also, paradoxically, not simply silence. If we don’t explore that openness, we will never know who we are.
What helps you find balance in daily life?
I find peace through appreciating whatever arises every day the tiny finches on our deck seeking a hiding place for their nest, a sudden flash of yellow when the daffodils first bloom, the sky growing lighter as I drink my coffee in the morning, the taste of chocolate and the sound of the rain on the roof. Our senses are channels for so much that is interesting, beautiful, challenging, and joyful.
A place physical or internal that brings you a sense of peace:
I find peace through appreciating whatever arises every day the tiny finches on our deck seeking a hiding place for their nest, a sudden flash of yellow when the daffodils first bloom, the sky growing lighter as I drink my coffee in the morning, the taste of chocolate and the sound of the rain on the roof. Our senses are channels for so much that is interesting, beautiful, challenging, and joyful.
A book, teaching, or idea that has influenced you deeply:
Two of Tarthang Rinpoche’s books in particular have influenced me greatly: Revelations of Mind, which was the first book we taught at Dharma College, and The Lotus Trilogy, which is written as a dialog between a teacher and two students. The Lotus Trilogy especially is one of those complex works by a great master that you can read over and over again. It never stops revealing new wisdom.
A few words for someone just beginning to explore their mind:
Tarthang Rinpoche speaks in Revelations of Mind of ‘making friends with mind.’ That’s an excellent way to think about it. So many people say they struggle to practice. But if you struggle, it’s very hard to make friends. It’s all much lighter than that. You don’t need to sit for any particular amount of time and you don’t need to achieve any particular result. The best way to explore inwardly is to relax, be curious, and gently get to know your mind as you would a person you just met. If you watch and listen with interest, new knowledge will naturally arise.
Websites, books, or YouTube channels:
I’ve published three books:
The Color of Dusk, Omnidawn Publishing, 2001 (poetry)
Omitting All That is Usually Said, Omnidawn Publishing, 2024 (poetry)
The Undreamed Self, Dharma Publishing, 2026
Something people might not expect about you:
When I was young, like so many girls, I wanted more than anything to become a ballerina. I thought ballet was the most freeing and beautiful profession, and I read everything I could find about famous ballet dancers and how they trained. I took lessons with a local teacher in Queens for a few years and then studied for 2 more years with a very serious Russian man at the Metropolitan Opera School of Ballet in Manhattan. Alas, ballet turned out not to be my calling. But I still remember how happy I was in those classes, and how much I loved my pink toe shoes.
Bio
Robin Caton holds a JD from the University of Michigan Law School, and an MFA in poetry from Saint Mary’s College of California. After practicing law for 15 years with a large San Francisco firm, she resigned her partnership to write and teach. In the mid-90’s, Robin discovered the wisdom teachings of Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku, with whom she has studied ever since. She was the first Director of Dharma College in Berkeley, and taught weekly classes in Rossmoor for 6 years before the pandemic. Robin continues to teach Zoom classes to students around the world. She has published two volumes of poetry, The Color of Dusk and Omitting All That is Usually Said. Robin and her husband moved to Rossmoor in 2023.
Explore the live online courses Robin teaches.