Well, the American Buddhist is back in America! There is so much to share, but it’s about 60 degrees here in Washington DC (that’s 15.5 Celsius), so I’m getting out of the apartment asap. More soon for sure. Right now I’m busy unpacking (boxes of books from London mostly), sorting myself into Kelly’s room and apartment, and resting. But already I’m itching to read, to write, to find a meditation group (or start one!), and all the rest that brings... Read more

This will be my last post here for a while, as I revive justininengland.blogspot.com for the next couple years. I am in London now, New Cross to be exact, at a net cafe not far from my new flat on the fifth floor at Batavia Mews: Flat 4 Room 19 (corrected from 4 19)Batavia MewsNew Cross RoadNew CrossLondonSE14 6AS (corrected from SE4) Tomorrow marks the first day of orientation for my MPHIL/PhD studies here in Religious Studies, where I’ll focus... Read more

An elk in Montana. Taken on the drive to the airport on Monday~ I have left the state I call home. But I am sure this parting will be only temporary. I will be back to be married in June, to teach then too, and no doubt both Kelly and I will be called home permanently before too long. Yesterday, from the comfort of Kelly’s appartment near Washington DC, I read a bit of the recent poetry of Jay Parini.... Read more

Tomorrow I leave for a short (weekend) meditation retreat, a MUCH needed pause from the chaos to step out, to breath, to see it all just a little more clearly – and then to jump back in! I know this time in my life will be looked back upon as one of the most pivotal in my life: the beginning of the end of my life as a career student, the beginning of the beginning of my life with Kelly;... Read more

Sunshine cuts the clouds And blue skies watch The velvet mist Dancing through hillsides Glowing yellowUnder morning sun. I have been traveling like a madman these past ten days or so; all of it exhausting but absolutely worth every bit of effort. I’m weary though, and looking forward to a few good nights’ rest. Today, on my drive from Missoula to Helena, I witnessed once again one of the countless reasons I love Montana and hope to return here soon... Read more

Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi, at the Jeta Grove in Anathapindika’s monastery. Now when night was passing a certain devata, lighting up the whole Jeta Grove with her surpassing beauty, approached the Lord. Having drawn near and prostrated herself she stood to one side. Standing there the devata said: Those living in the forest,Peaceful and calm, of pure life,Eating but one meal a day:How is it they appear so radiant? The Lord... Read more

What to say? I feel like so much of my life has been in fast-forward mode lately (in a good way).First, love. I recall reading a passage from Thich Nhat Hanh a couple years back where he describes two kinds of love. The first is love about. I love this about you, that about so-and-so, and so on. It’s the kind of love you can label, you can pin down and describe to people. For instance, I love that my... Read more

So I’ve been ‘tagged’ (many thanks Patia) with some sort of meme-type-thing asking me why I blog. Hmmm… It’s a good question, especially now, after only two posts in the last four weeks. I began blogging at the suggestion of my good friend Ali Tabibnejad, a fellow philosopher. Together we launched “The UM Philosophy Society Blog” just after my graduation. Then I went off to England and the blog faded, though not without some wit and insight into the lives... Read more

In his chapter, “Deep ecology: A New Philosophy for our Times,” Warwick Fox draws on Arne Naess’s 1972 distinction between “shallow” and “deep” ecology.” Shallow ecology views humans as separate from their environment and as the source for all value, ascribing only instrumental value to the non-human world. On the other hand, deep ecology favors a relational, total field image, in which organisms are viewed “as knots in the biospherical net of field of intrinsic relations.” Deep ecology strives to... Read more

Sigh… I wish I had the time to give justice to the excitement of my life as of late, but alas, the whirlwind continues and only a moment’s rest is granted. Some highlights: The trip to DC and Ohio was amazing. I met Kelly’s family and immediately felt at home with them all; really truly wonderful people. My conversation with her mom went immediately to spirituality, into a conversation I look forward to having with my own mother when the... Read more