The Journal of Buddhist Ethics is out with the start of it’s 2010 offerings now, including a fascinating book review about Pyrrhonism and Buddhism (.pdf). And be sure to check the 2009 page for Rev. Danny’s excellent book review (.pdf) there. In my years studying philosophy I’ve read and heard countless times the critique of Buddhism as being overly passive, even by prominent Buddhists. At times I’ve bought into this criticism, at times opposed it. The following paragraph illustrates well the power... Read more

I wrote the following back in late 2007. While some things have changed, much has stayed the same… (the cartoons are new) Politics: toward a Buddhist immigration policy What would a Buddhist immigration policy look like for the US (or UK)? Obviously such notions as generosity (dana) and nonviolence (ahimsa) should come to mind. Or perhaps Shantideva’s simile of the hand and the foot: urging us to reach out and help others as we are all interconnected. People may also like to stretch analogies regarding... Read more

Returning from retreat or long travels (England, China [Taiwan soon, and then hopefully India]…), and I find it difficult to reintegrate with technology. I feel overwhelmed by it all. There are 13 tabs on my browser now. Facebook and twitter feel like the death of me, each pulling me in countless directions with pretty headlines, links and/or enticing images. What happened to my ‘in the moment-ness’? Being present is too easily lost in this sea of hedonic treadmills. Presence is... Read more

Here are some more photos from our recent post-retreat camping adventure in Wyoming. A few are pretty doctored up with Photoshop, something I’d like to get better at as time allows. Lemme know what you think… Ansel Adams wannabe. Too many trees and not enough time to cut them down. Elk reserve pond Ominous sky Julie through the car window A mangy old moose. River bend Teton close-up Holy Clouds, Batman!   Lonely tree. Read more

In January I wrote a bit about an adventure in Pāli memorization that I have embarked upon, learning short passages by rote and then digging into their meaning. One of the more obvious starting points was the “Questions for a young monk.” This method of basic memorization and then progressively learning deeper and deeper meanings behind the words is historically how most Buddhists (monastics) have come to know the Dharma. The questions for a young monk also make up another... Read more

I’m always looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, so it was with delight that I read this evening that my favorite local brewery (Bayern) will be recycling it’s entire bottle packaging (cap, bottle, and box). I’ve been recycling and pushing it on friends and family for years now, but unfortunately in Missoula, Montana there is no glass recycling at all – until now.  If we can get a winery on board to recycle wine bottles (which to my... Read more

I’m back now from 5 days of silence with John Travis and the Teton Sangha, based in Jackson WY and two nights camping and practicing my photography in the Tetons with Julie. Now… a return to the treadmill of email, finances, facebook, and little things like shaving every day and changing my socks. More on the retreat to come, and of course lots of photos.  There is something wonderful about trekking around National Parks in the off-season, when it’s just you,... Read more

Before leading a meditation for our University’s Health Enhancement Services group (which means teaching freshmen in dorms, giving them their first taste of meditation), I was given this lovely card: I have worked with them, I guess, for over a year now, leading dorm meditations as well as some that were specially aimed at athletes (18-20 year old young men and women, together, with an ‘athletic’ energy that made things tough). I’ve also offered “wellness week” meditations during the week... Read more

There is a lot of chatter in the interweb lately about Buddhism and the Environment, with plenty of opposing views (what else is new) and a myriad of texts cited to reinforce them. While the “Buddhist attitude” toward the environment is far from unequivocal, I’ve always appreciated the following verse from the Arahat (“worthy one,” or one awakened under the teachings of the Buddha) chapter of the Dhammapada: Forests are delightful, where (ordinary) folks do not delight; the passionless will rejoice,... Read more

The National Coalition Building Institute of Missoula has initiated our first annual Diversity Day here in Missoula, MT. I spent the day working on my thesis, running, meditating, and now, blogging.  Not exactly the grandest “Diversity Day” activities, but, as has been well-stated, we oughtn’t just wait for special days to do our part. In that spirit, I urge you all to meditate on your own roll in promoting diversity: through active listening, outreach, support, or in any other way.... Read more