On this day in 1966 the first episode of Star Trek was broadcast. Nothing would be the same… And at no extra charge here’s a link to Gene Roddenberry’s 1968 memo on improving the characters. Read more

I had no idea. On this day in 1911 critic, poet, pornographer and the man who coined the term surrealism, Guillaume Apollinaire was arrested and thrown into jail on suspicion of stealing the Mona Lisa. He had, after all, once called for the Louvre to be burned to the ground. It probably didn’t help that it turned out he had in fact offered shelter to Vincenzo Peruggia, the man who did steal the painting, and who left behind some Egyptian... Read more

While in my best estimation nowhere near enough folk as should have took an interest in my latest book, If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break, at least I’d gotten some good notices. As they say, better than a poke in the eye… And now, the good and wise Melvin McLeod and his associates at Shambhala Sun have included a section from that book in the latest edition of The Best Buddhist Writing 2013. Which, somehow, feels much better… For... Read more

I acknowledge at the very beginning of the talk I have an horrendous memory. After a brief introduction to koan introspection I then tell the second case of the Wumenguan and comment. During which I consistently refer to Baizhang as Zhaozhou. Did I mention a lousy memory? Thanks, I guess, to Adam Tebbe, for capturing the talk at the Toledo Buddhist Temple Zen Precepts sesshin this summer… Read more

John Cage, avant-garde musician and much more was born on this day in 1912. Read more

A couple of friends, I mean real friends not Facebook friends have informed me they’ve tried to comment on my posting regarding Syria, but their comments have not made it to the page. I don’t know what the deal is, I’ve looked at the comment section and don’t see anything there… One friend Algernon D’Ammassa, an old Zen hand, has written two comments that are posted at his blog. Worth a visit. This first one really is mainly taking me... Read more

William Wordsworth’s poem “Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802” was written on, well, this day, in 1802. There is something about it actually having been composed on the 31st of July, in that year, and in fact was originally titled as having been written in 1803, but nonetheless has survived the scandals as a lovely sonnet… Read more

Our Hero is from Zen priest, social activist and folk singer Alan Senauke’s album Everything is Broken, described as “a collection of ‘buddhistic’ blues, shouts, and bluegrass about the way our lives unfold in joy and sorrow.” Read more

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ONE CONTINUOUS MISTAKE A Meditation in the Shadow of an Assault on Syria 1 September 2013 James Ishmael Ford Senior Minister First Unitarian Church Providence, Rhode Island Text No man is an island, Entire of itself.
 Each is a piece of the continent,
 A part of the main.
 If a clod be washed away by the sea,
 Europe is the less.
 As well as if a promontory were.
 As well as if a manner of thine own 
 Or of... Read more