Monkey Mind

It was cool and drizzly when I was picked up in front of my apartment in Chicago’s Hyde Park. A few hours later it was very bright and just a fraction on the good side of hot as I picked up my car in San Diego. A lovely adventure, at this writing, actually not quite finished.I settled into the motel, had dinner, and spent the balance of the evening reading and watching TV. The next day I drove out to the First Unitarian Universalist Church and conducted a day long exploration of Buddhism and … [Read more...]

Very, very early tomorrow I’ll be climbing on a plane to Southern California where I’ll be doing a workshop on Zen & Unitarian Universalism and then preaching at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego. Perhaps signficantly, the sermon topic will be doubt as a spiritual practice.With my back being wonky for something over two months now, I’ve actually been looking forward to what should be a delightful experience with some dread. I’ve been thinking this trip will suggest … [Read more...]

As I was getting ready for my Chicago sojourn, Jan, the literary one in our family, told me I really would enjoy reading The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, as most of it takes place in what is now called Hyde Park, the neighborhood where Meadville Lombard stands. I said, okay. But actually I didn't bother to bring the book with me. Then a few days ago I stumbled upon a copy at the local branch of Powell's Books. Ten bucks for a hardcover copy. Too good a deal to pass on, I thought...My … [Read more...]

This is not a reprint of my UUA pamphlet, although it hits some of the same themes, recuring constantly for me. This particular reflection comes out of my visit yesterday to the Chicago Zen Center. Long established, with a creative and dynamic abbot, I believe this center shows a lot about where Zen in the west is today.Six of us from Meadville Lombard attended their early morning Sunday sit & teisho. I had the privilege of giving the talk.It was after the talk as some of us were preparing … [Read more...]

I've just learned of the passing of one of my teachers, Masao Abe Sensei. During my sojourn at the Pacific School of Religion Professor Abe was a visiting scholar. I took several of the classes he offered and was one of a gaggle that provided secretarial services to the old teacher.He was the one who taught me that Zen practice and scholarship were not incompatable...Masao Abe, 91Leader in Inter-religious DialogueObituary by the Reverend Doctor James Fredericks, Professor Theological Studies at … [Read more...]

It’s now a tad over six weeks since beginning my sabbatical. I’m settled into my Chicago rhythms. Turns out I’ve only had to make minor adjustments to my plans for the class. I expected worse...My only formal college teaching experience before had been a day class at a Community College. I’m a great fan of Junior Colleges, as a High School dropout, California’s amazing Junior College system, and particularly evening school opportunities became my ticket into higher education. I suspect … [Read more...]

I was reading Steven Heine’s Opening A Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters. I really like him. He is a first rate scholar who at the same time loves koan literature and appears to be profoundly disinterested in koans as they are used within formal Zen training. What I really like is how this allows him to approach koans from left field, often offering something of genuine value to all of us, including those who do use koans as a central part of our spiritual discipline.Anyway, early on in the … [Read more...]

My friend Rod Mead Sperry asked whether I was interested in giving him a blurb for Susan Murphy’s new book Upside-Down Zen: Finding the Marvelous in the Ordinary.” I said I’m a great admirer of Susan (she is a Dharma sister) but I’m extraordinarily busy right now. Still, I’d try to find time to read it. I fear I’m too late for the blurb, but I’ve just finished her book, and it is amazing. Quite simply Susan Murphy gives Zen a Western face with an Australian accent. And its right … [Read more...]

As those who have to hear me go on know I have a "bad back." I suffer from a variety of things which include degenerative disc disease and arthritis. It makes me wish there were a personal divinity as I have lots to complain about - and the human back being fairly high on that list.For the last several weeks I've been enveloped in a condition I call "wonky," where there's a deep chronic pain, probably at least in part an inflamation that's a pre-condition for what I call "going out." Going out … [Read more...]

I was visiting the Christian Century website where I found myself reading an essay on the emergent church movement through a look at Jacob’s Well in Kansas City, MO. What struck me and made me want to write this reflection was a quote written on one of the walls at that church from Stanley Hauerwas.Professor Hauerwas is not someone I would normally quote. He is sometimes described theologically as a “paleo-orthodox” Christian, something I have no particular interest in. Admittedly his … [Read more...]