How Do Idealistic Lives Turn Dark? A Memoir Reflection

In the mid 1960s, I was a young activist living in Powelton Village, Philadelphia, organizing for peace. I crossed paths with two men who seemed dedicated to the community—until decades later, when both made national headlines for awful crimes.

One was Ira Einhorn, a prominent figure in the counterculture movement. The other was Kermit Gosnell, a medical student who performed abortions in his home.

Years later, Einhorn was convicted of murder, and Gosnell was imprisoned for horrific acts in his abortion clinic. Looking back, it forced a deeply painful question: How do people who start in places of high idealism take such dark turns?

Examining these encounters wasn’t about dwelling on tragedy. It was about learning how to make sense of human nature, process heavy truths, and find equanimity in a complicated world.

Discover the full story in From Pain to Peace: How Trauma and Tragedy Teach Us Compassion and Wisdom.

May all beings reside in benevolent equanimity.

My spiritial memoir is available here in paperback and eBook. The audiobook can be purchased here as well as via Audible, Spotify, Chirp, and other online retailers.

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