2016-11-23T06:57:20-08:00

According to those good folk at Wikipedia Aristotle and I think some other ancient worthies claim it was on this day in 534 before our common era that Thespis of Icaria introduced a new theatrical style he called a tragedy, and in which, for the first time we are aware of in the historical record, someone played the part of a character on a stage. (Not long after he would take it on the road, and with that inventing the... Read more

2016-11-22T10:25:47-08:00

Back in June I wrote a piece for Monkey Mind reflecting on Donald Trump’s race for the presidency. In short I feared the neo-fascist aura of his campaign. At the time I observed how he’s not Hitler. He’s not Mussolini. He is, however, a lot like Silvio Berlusconi. But, not quite. What he is, is something of an American original. And, now, this American original with more than a whiff of fascism following him like a smoky tail is president... Read more

2016-11-21T13:31:54-08:00

There have been a couple of declarations of interdependence, but today I find myself thinking of the Buddhist Declaration of Interdependence that was first formulated in 2004 and then revised in 2006. Buddhist teacher Maia Duerr notes it “was originally written in 2004 by (the renowned Zen priest) Alan Senauke of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and presented to delegates of the Republican and Democractic conventions that year. A number of people contributed to subsequent drafts, including: Robert Aitken Roshi, Hilda... Read more

2016-11-20T08:46:52-08:00

A SONG OF INTERDEPENDENCE The Buddhist & Unitarian Universalist Encounter & What It Can Mean for Us All James Ishmael Ford 20 November 2016 Unitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim Anaheim, California Text “Buddhism is now an accepted path within Unitarian Universalist circles, and each year more people are discovering the value of Buddhist spiritual practices and the holistic Buddhist view of life. At the same time, UUs are modifying Buddhism to meet their needs for a socially engaged, non-discriminatory, and... Read more

2016-11-19T08:17:54-08:00

It was on this day in 1905 that Thomas Francis “Tommy” Dorsey, Jr was born in Mahanoy Plane, Pennsylvania, the second of four children, and the son of a bandleader. As Tommy Dorsey he would become one of the great entertainers of his generation. He started working with luminaries such as Rudy Vallee, and often together with his brother Jimmy. Gradually he and his brother gained renown for their musical virtuosity. At this moment, with all that is going on... Read more

2016-11-18T06:40:47-08:00

It was on this day in 1865 that the young Mark Twain’s The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was published in the New York Saturday Press. In two years it would be the title contribution to his first book. And with that the world would never be the same. Jan and I have made Mark Twain pilgrimages twice in our lives. The first time was pushing on twenty-five years ago when we lived in Wisconsin, and I served a... Read more

2016-11-17T08:44:26-08:00

17 November 2016 At our Zen sitting the other night, one of our seniors gave the monthly scheduled dharma talk. He spoke quite movingly about his personal engagement with the results of our recent presidential election evoking his sense of dismay, his anxiety and fears, and how he has used it to delve into the contours of not knowing. During the conversation part of the evening which normally follows a talk, a visitor to the group although an old friend... Read more

2016-11-16T10:59:26-08:00

Last month sometime Jan and I found ourselves on our second, maybe it is our third trip up to Ojai. Ojai, if you are unfamiliar, is one of those places that flying saucers like to fuel. It’s a day drive Sedonaesque experience from Los Angeles and home to many things, but probably most notably for its associations with Krishnamurti and Theosophy. Other than a visit to see the Liberal Catholic cathedral, a center for one of my favorite minority religions,... Read more

2016-11-15T14:52:21-08:00

and, at no extra charge, a cartoon… Read more

2016-11-15T11:27:08-08:00

One of the things I really like about Facebook is that among the various opportunities one may find common hearts in places that without this particular social medium simply would not be possible. A case in point is my friend Fritz Wendt, a Lutheran pastor in New York. His pictures, I notice, usually have him sporting a large cigar. Clearly he is a bit of a trouble maker. Like I said, I like him and glad we have a relationship,... Read more

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