{"id":369,"date":"2009-03-26T04:33:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-26T04:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/americanbuddhist\/2009\/03\/life-of-late-and-perhaps-some-gratitude\/"},"modified":"2009-03-26T04:33:00","modified_gmt":"2009-03-26T04:33:00","slug":"life-of-late-and-perhaps-some-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/americanbuddhist\/2009\/03\/life-of-late-and-perhaps-some-gratitude.html","title":{"rendered":"Life of late and perhaps some Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>Busy <\/span>\u2013 I think is how I\u2019d describe my life of late, but then again that\u2019s nothing new. I\u2019ve sent a bit of work to my advisor and await word back. I\u2019ve promised more soon \u2013 along the lines of which I am enjoying Rupert Gethin\u2019s 1997 article \u201cCosmology and Meditation: From the Agga\u00f1\u00f1a-Sutta to the Mah\u0101y\u0101na\u201d from History of Religions<\/span> (Vol.36, No.3). He makes a persuasive argument that cosmology in early Buddhism<\/a> (and beyond) must be taken seriously, even to folks trying to narrow our focus to ethics such as myself. So I\u2019m working on a page or two of writing to convince my advisor that this topic belongs in my thesis.<\/p>\n

Next, I\u2019m working on an article for the AAR meeting (yet to be determined whether our group submission will be accepted or not).<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s an article for wildmind<\/span> on anicca<\/span> \u2013 impermanence- due soon (by Friday).<\/p>\n

Then I\u2019m working on a talk for the Center for Ethics spring lecture series \u2013 April 13 (please do come if you\u2019re in Missoula and can sneak away from things for an hour Monday 12:10-1pm).<\/p>\n

I\u2019m introducing a group of students called \u201cPeers Reaching Out\u201d to meditation in one hour tomorrow, after one successful 30 minute session to another small group and two sets of trainings of UM Freshmen Athletes. Speaking of meditation\u2026 Campus Sangha meets tomorrow at 6 at Brittany\u2019s (email me Buddhistethics AT gmail.com for directions). After that we\u2019ll take a week off for spring break and then\u2026 Lots of meditation teaching.<\/p>\n

I think that\u2019s about it (not so bad when it\u2019s listed out).<\/p>\n

Oh, and the photo\u2026 Reading the latest AAR<\/span> (American Academy of Religion) job report. Things look good. Based on a survey, about 1\/3 of job candidates at the recent meeting were offered one or more jobs. That might sound low, but for academia it\u2019s great. Back when I was thinking of seeking a job as a philosopher, the numbers were closer to 1 in 10 or 20. About 90% of salaries started over $40k, with over half over $50k. Another happy fact, for me at least, was that only 5% of candidates were under 30 years old. I\u2019m pretty sure I\u2019ll be amongst the canditates this year at my youthful 29. If all goes ideally I\u2019ll be one of those happy 1\/3 with a job and one of the >50% making $50k+ in just over 18 months<\/span>. Odds are it will take me one more year \u2013 but we\u2019ll be optimistic for now.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see, what else? Not much. I may be moving soon \u2013 after being spoiled, living alone for 3 weeks. Space and quiet are beautiful things, especially when trying to carry around a ph.d.\u2019s worth of material in one\u2019s head<\/span>. Oh, and I ran a 5k last Saturday \u2013 22:17 was the time; not bad for a starter on the season. Maybe one more of those, then a 10k, some more training, and ultimately the Missoula Marathon (early\/mid July)\u2026<\/p>\n

Mmmkay. Gratitude, quickly:<\/p>\n