A lovely, very, very British opening for the Olympics… Loved the Queen’s acting debut. And never a miss to see Mr Bean. And a pause. With all the difficulties that perennially haunt the Olympics, the politics, the costs and difficulties for the host country and city, the slights, the botched opportunities, the list goes on – with all of that, nonetheless, a celebration of the human spirit. Youth. Striving. Courage. And throughout dreams of possibility. A good thing… Read more

Book Review James Ishmael Ford’s If You’re Lucky Your Heart Will Break: Field Notes from a Zen Life By Catherine Senghas This book “had” me already at the title. Perhaps you have heard the oft-quoted story wherein a Zen master holds up a glass and says that he sees this glass as already broken, and thus enjoys it incredibly and appreciates its preciousness all the more. For many this story helps fend off the tendency to put precious things away,... Read more

Keith Richards once said of Mick Jagger that “He’s a nice bunch of guys.” Today is all of the various Micks birthday! And, I wish them many more to come… Read more

The subject tonight is Love And for tomorrow night as well, As a matter of fact I know of no better topic For us to discuss Until we all Die! Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladinsky) Read more

Bob Eberly was born on this day in 1916. He was often paired with Helen O’Connell, and they both sang with Tommy Dorsey, like this… Read more

Tafari Makonnen was born on this day in 1892. In 1930 would assume the throne of Ethiopia as the Emperor Haile Selassie I. Through the vagaries of mysterious karma, and possibly at least in part to the royal family’s claim to be descendent from the biblical Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, he would find a lasting place in religions as a central figure in the Rastafarian movement. Mildly ironic, of course, as he remained an Oriental Orthodox Christian for... Read more

I gave Josh Bartok, Keido Mu’nen Sensei, Dharma transmission within the Soto stream of Zen Buddhism at midnight on Friday the 20th of July. These pictures are from the public celebration the next day. Read more

What is Zen? A Brief Outline James Ishmael Ford Zen is a tradition of understanding and practice, held together over time by lineage. Let me unravel a little what that understanding, that practice and what that lineage are that together create what is called Zen. First, understanding. This insight is how we are in the world. Who we are as we are, is real. And at the very same time that who we are as we are, are one. Now,... Read more

Well, as of today, I am. We are the product of a mysterious combination of genes and history. As time races in that singular direction the history part becomes ever larger. So I’ve noticed… I’m not losing my hair, but vastly more grey than brown. And those lines in my face are not all laugh lines. I have no idea where that thin young man who shares my name went. The one who I expect to see in the mirror.... Read more

J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye was published on this day in 1951. If one googles the terms “J. D. Salinger” and “Buddhism” quite a bit pops up. People have long been intrigued at possible links to the Buddhadharma and specifically Zen. Me, I’m not sure there’s all that much of either in his books. And, I do think he was an important figure in establishing at least a mystique of Zen within our collective consciousness. He provided a... Read more