The West Needs Buddhism George W Wright Honolulu, Hawaii 1 January 1929 Published in An Outline of Buddhism, edited by Ernest Shinkaku Hunt I’ve looked for anything I could find about the author, George W Wright, but sadly, or, maybe not, I can find nothing. Well, other than perhaps that he was at one time a Presbyterian missionary, and perhaps at some point editor of the Hawaiian Hochi, a Japanese American paper. I really would like to know more about him.... Read more
For the past couple of months I’ve been attending the Wednesday morning zazen meeting led by my friend Gyokei Yokoyma Sensei. For one thing it is nice to sit in a group where one is not in charge. And, I get more than my fill of that with the Blue Cliff sanghas. For another I love that early morning schedule. The way the light comes up from the darkness as we begin, the mix of smells, particularly... Read more
I was visiting with a friend, a Neo-pagan, who wanted to tell me a story. Now, to be honest. I don’t have many friends who are Neo-pagan. In my Unitarian Universalist ministry, the first people I would disappoint were almost always those who fit broadly into the New age camp. They thought Buddhism and the New Age overlapped significantly. I thought otherwise. Well, I still do. The same was true for the majority of Neo-pagans who broadly... Read more
This is the Buddhist life and the Zen life, as I understand it; a life lived in full realization of who we really are and what this world we live in really is; a life lived simply, naturally, spontaneously, and awarely; a life dedicated to infinite gratitude to the past, infinite gratitude and service to the present, and infinite responsibility to the future. Ruth Fuller Sasaki, Zen a Religion Read more
After reading something I recently wrote about Zen and Zen training, a friend who is a long time Zen priest raised the question as to what should be considered a “real” Zen practice. She cited as an example people who go to a weekly group, sit a period and then discuss a book they are all reading. And then wondered aloud whether that can be counted as a real Zen practice? Or is it really just... Read more
Soto Zen Buddhism in North America Some Random Notes from a Work in Progress (First published on 20 January 2018, minor edits 28 June, 2019) James Myoun Ford Empty Moon Zen Network Preamble The other day I looked something up in my history of Zen come West, Zen Master Who? It’s a dozen years old and I don’t have cause to look at it much. And, embarrassingly, what I mainly recall are various errors of fact,... Read more
Yesterday at our Weight Watcher meeting the leader asked a question. “Who here is an experienced beginner?” What she was looking for were people willing to acknowledge that harsh fact of starting the program, falling off, then starting again. Experienced Beginner. The intention, pretty obviously, was inspiration. And it was. But for me that triggered all sorts of other things. But first what we were being molded into. Recognition. I’m now pushing close to two years on the program.... Read more
The Golden Chain is a beloved gatha within North American Shin or Pure Land Buddhist communities, especially those associated with the Buddhist Churches of America. Golden Chain I am a link in Amida Buddha’s golden chain of love that stretches around the world. In gratitude may I keep my link bright and strong. I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself. I will try to think pure and beautiful... Read more
Saving Everyone: A Zen Reflection James Myoun Ford A talk delivered at the Blue Cliff Zen Sangha in Long Beach My friend the poet Martin Nakell dashed off a small poem inspired by the four vows and gave it to me, inscribed on the front of a small chapbook containing another of his poems. That saving poem goes: Before I could save myself Mark Rothko saved me Now I can save myself. You can’t save... Read more
One evening toward the end of a meeting, Mole said, “I’ve heard that Zen is for old folks to teach them how to die. What do you think of that notion?” Raven said, “It helps young folks that way, too.” Mole asked, “They might have a fatal accident?” Raven said, “I’m all for accidents.” Zen Master Raven by Robert Aitken Read more
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