Archives for “zen”
Last night at a meeting, somebody asked me why I don’t make money. There are a lot of reasons, but lately the reason I don’t make money is this: I am a full-time student. Not at a university (though Ohio State says they’ll hand over my Philosophy degree if I take three non-Philosophy classes so [...]
I mention “NVC” sometimes. Along with Zen and a few other things, it has informed my daily practice, and feels like a big part of who I am. Sometimes I hear curiosity about what it is, so I thought I’d try to talk about it a little. I can describe what it is pretty quickly, [...]
What if every time we choose love over fear every time we let redemption happen every time we forgive we add a thread to the tapestry of reality what if all those threads of love and grace become the substance that makes up the universe? What if they become god? What if we are creating [...]
When I’ve asked “but how do I love my neighbors—my enemies—as myself?” I’ve been told it’s not really possible; Jesus didn’t really mean that… I wasn’t convinced. You have probably heard by now that the Radical Love Project isn’t just about service. At the core, it’s about following love wherever it leads us. It’s about [...]
In Christian Zen, author William Johnston relates this conversation he had with his Zen teacher. “I’m doing what you, I suppose, would call ‘gedo Zen.’” “Very good! Very good! Many Christians do that. But what precisely do you mean by ‘gedo Zen’?” “I mean that I am sitting silently in the presence of God without [...]
Last night my little one, age four and a half, was having bad dreams. He wanted to go back to sleep, but the dreams continued to form in his mind as he tried to fall asleep. I whispered to him that we could make a new dream, one he liked. Sometimes that seems to help. [...]
Have you ever written something really powerful, then later, when you wanted to write, thought, “How did I ever do that?” You try to reach that level again, and… nothing.
Our car died, and we decided to try living without one. It’s been interesting. Lots of things are harder, but not so hard we can’t manage, generally. Being sick is harder, for sure. But one thing I notice is that I get to experience the world more directly from a bike. In a car, you’re [...]
Did you ever wonder why you’ll run across a spiritual teacher who clearly has genuine insight, and then as you get to know them you’ll find attachments and judgements that are almost shocking? I don’t know about you, but I’ve even wondered that about myself. I “get it,” and yet I find myself judging, becoming [...]
I was sitting zazen the other day, and an image came to mind. Actually, it was more like a whole story, but it only lasted a second, I swear! :-) Anyway, I was thinking of a piano player who’d been playing by ear for years, and doing fine. She’d created beautiful music by listening to [...]
In the morning, at the zendo, after zazen there is zendo cleaning and then a formal breakfast. There is a formal aspect to the meal, but it’s not silent. That is, we engage in pleasant conversation while we eat. I asked the priest, “Is it ok for me to ask a dharma question over breakfast?” [...]
I have heard people tell me that they don’t want to study Karate (or any martial art) because, they say, it’s not practical, or it’s too structured, too choreographed to be worthwhile. I’ve even heard students complain that endless punches and blocks will not help them to become… whatever it is they hope to become. [...]
Recent Activity