On the 23rd of March, in 1889, forty admirers of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, took hands and pledge themselves as his followers as the promised messiah and Mahdi. This moment is considered the inauguration of the Ahmadiyya Muslim movement. Ghulam Ahmad was born into an affluent Mughal family on the 13th of February, 1835, in Qadian, Punjab. His father was a physician. While he worked for his family he devoted all the time... Read more
Thomas Cranmer, theologian, controversialist, one time Archbishop of Canterbury, was tied to a stake and burned to death on the 21st of March, in 1556. Cranmer, one time toady to a king, a priest and prelate. He was brilliant writer and complicated thinker, and was the principal architect of a reformed Catholicism in England. That king died. Then briefly under a boy king whose rule was through more extreme Protestants. Then, finally for... Read more
I am currently at a retreat for Unitarian Universalist clergy meeting at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s lovely being with colleagues, the larger majority actively engaged in ministry, most in the parish. The theme presentation in on trauma, personal and institutional by the Reverend Dr Elizabeth Stevens. (It’s really good. If you’re responsible for a religious organization like a church, you should book her to do a workshop) But what’s caught me... Read more
Be fearful of exalted rank, o soul. And if you are unable to subdue your aspirations — doubtingly pursue them and with precautions. And the more you rise, the more examining, the warier be. And when you are arrived at the supreme height of your glory — a Caesar, as it were: when you are become a man so widely famed: then specially be wary — at such time as you come out into the... Read more
An Evolutionary Chronology of Chan Compiled and edited by Richard Kollmar and published here with permission Key: purple = eminent monks; red = important dates and periods; blue = putative Chan masters Outside of China and before the 8th century CE, no literary or epigraphic evidence supports the existence of an Indian tradition connected to Chan. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1st and 2nd centuries CE: Buddhist monks and scriptures reach China. The period of translation and commentary begins.... Read more
I am so pleased that one of my favorite publishers, Shambhala Publications, is bringing out my next book. It’s due in July. Feel free to pre-order it. While n the middle of the edits on this project, I was notified my first book had gone out of print. It was an introduction to Zen, originally aimed at Unitarian Universalists. There was a second edition that was meant to be a more general introduction. I re-read it. And... Read more
While strolling with master Nanquan, the official Luxuan observed “The teacher Sengzhao once said,’ Heaven, earth, and I are of the same root. Everything and I are one.’ That’s so beautiful.” Nanquan called to Luxuan pointing a finger at a flowering plant in the garden. “People now see this flower as if in a dream.” Blue Cliff Record, case 40 (Book of Serenity, case 91) Nanquan Puyan is one of the signal masters... Read more
My friend Ken Ireland, one of my smarter friends, observed recently that there is no God. And that Mary is his mother. I said, oh my. That’s the truth of the matter. The deep intimation of the spiritual life in this world of tears. The doors and windows that opens for us. And he said, “James. It’s a quote from George Santayana.” Why has no one told me about George Santayana before? While somewhere along the line I... Read more
The Case The abbot Nanquan came upon the monastics of the eastern and western halls arguing about a cat. He took the cat and held it up with one hand while holding a knife in the other. He glared at the assembly and harshly said, “If you can give me a word, I will spare this cat. Otherwise, I will kill it.” No one spoke. So, he cut the cat into two. That... Read more
The 23rd of February has always been an important day in my personal calendar. It’s the day that has been officially designated as when the first pages were pulled for Johannes Gutenberg’s wonderful Bible in 1455. When I was a kid it was called the first printed book. A big deal. And as a bookish kid, I’m super glad. They had to change that when it became apparent the oldest extant printed book was in fact... Read more
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