A Few Random Thoughts Before Taking off for Sesshin

I only just noticed today is the birthday of both Carl Jung and Aldous Huxley.

Both people profoundly touched my life and I’m glad to acknowledge them.

In my adolescence as a fan of Science Fiction I first read Huxley’s Brave New World. From there I found myself intrigued by his explorations of psychedelics, The Doors of Perception. From there I began to read his other novels. In passing I found myself exploring the work of his grandfather. And most significantly I discovered his friends and fellow British expat Southern California writers, Christopher Isherwood and Gerald Heard. They opened many doors for me. Truly important figures in my life…

As to Jung. I sometimes call myself a pseudo-Jungian. I consider him both that important and I hope you catch the irony… Let’s be real. While an interesting metaphor, as a substantive thing the collective unconscious is highly unlikely. It’s a hypothesis that has despite much serious work, never been substantiated. (Jung’s assertions otherwise, not withstanding…) (And, yes, people identify it with the Buddhist Alaya Vijnana, which I also note seems to work better as a metaphor than as something substantive…) Still, his broadly religious style, his belief that matters of spirit counted and his fierce exploration of such matters as if they were important, and more directly significantly the people he influenced all would profoundly influence me. Of these, probably my continuing favorite is James Hillman.

So, a tip of the Hatlo hat to you, guys! Thanks…

And these are big times for us…

Today turns out to be the beginning of the end of our transition from Boston-centric to Providence-centric.

Yesterday we closed on our new house in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Pawtucket. It wasn’t a completely pleasant experience. (Some of my best friends are lawyers. I’ll leave it at that…) But we now have the keys in hand and a mortgage to meet…

Today, however, we must stop all the rushing about madness and take off to New Hampshire for our annual summer Boundless Way Zen Dai-sesshin.

Jan and I are both seriously ready.

When we return I’ll officially no longer be the minister of the First Unitarian Society in Newton and will be the First Unitarian Church of Providence’s sixteenth senior minister in succession from Josiah Cotton, who was called in 1728.

I’m so ready…

And so excited…

But, first a week of staring at walls.

(I see this was my six hundreth posting. Wow… However, a head’s up. For the next week postings will be a tad on the spotty side. Not a lot of computer time at sesshin…)