WHAT NEXT? A Meditation On the Election of Donald J Trump as President of the United States of America James Ishmael Ford 13 November 2016 Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula Santa Paula, California Text “As we come to know the seriousness of the situation, the war, the racism, the poverty in our world, we come to realize that things will not be changed simply by words or demonstrations. Rather, it’s a question of living one’s life in a way... Read more

From my friend, the Zen teacher Josh Bartok. Reprinted with permission… “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for... Read more

As it happens it was on this day in 1793 that Jean Sylvain Bailly, astronomer, mathematician, freemason, and the first mayor of Paris, was guillotined. He was just one more sacrifice to the goddess of vengeance during what we now call the reign of terror. It turns out that goddess is a very thirsty deity. Fast forwarding to today. One needs to recall that a lot of promises were made by the man who just got elected president of the... Read more

Leonard Cohen, poet, songwriter, showman, and Zen priest, died yesterday. He was eighty-two. My friend and Zen teaching colleague, Rafe Martin posted one of his poems in honor of the man, the poet, the Zen teacher. I think it captures something important for us… First of All First of all nothing will happen and a little later nothing will happen again A family might pass by in the night speaking of the children’s bedtime That will be the signal for... Read more

Kurt Vonnegut was born on this day in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922. He died in 2007 at the age of eighty-four. In between those events he did a lot of things, but most of all, at least for most of us, he wrote. Starting with Player Piano in 1952, he wrote fourteen novels, a couple of anthologies of short stories, and some non fiction. I notice that the Wikipedia article on him lists his genre as “satire, gallows humor, science... Read more

As I contemplate our American presidential election, my first response has been waves of disbelief, followed by despair, followed by resolve. Obviously it is important to pay attention to what happened, and for those on the progressive side of the spectrum to contemplate what it is we were missing that invited so many people to fall under the sway of a demagogue patently unsuited for the presidency. Times are hard and anxiety and fear are the currency of such times.... Read more

I was invited to join with some other dharma teachers commenting on yesterday’s momentous election here in the United States. I’m grateful for the invitation, and while I consider it very much a first thought, sometimes those are helpful… I started out: I rather feel like I’ve awakened on the day after the apocalypse. As a member of the progressive community I am shocked and profoundly saddened by his campaign, unapologetically appealing to fear of, if not outright hatred of... Read more

From soon after the polls opened today, there have been reports of long lines of women and men in Rochester lining up to paste their “I voted” stickers on Susan’s grave. This picture is from just after two o’clock in the afternoon, Rochester time. And as a post script a late story from NPR. Read more

Well, that does appear to be the case. The singer and songwriter Roberta Joan “Joni” Mitchell was born on this day in 1943. As Wikipedia tells us she “helped define an era and a generation,” and definitely was a significant part of the background of my formation. And even as those years have moved on I’ve remained fond of her wide ranging talent. So, happy birthday, Joni! And fond hopes for many more to come… Read more

Yunmen’s Dried Shit Stick James Ishmael Ford A student of the way asked Yunmen, “What is Buddha?” Yunmen replied, “Dried shitstick.” Case 21, Gateless Gate Yunmen is one of the great teachers of the Zen way. He lived between the middle of the ninth century and died late in the middle of the tenth century. The story of his awakening is one of the classics. After traveling from teacher to teacher, following hints and suggestions he came to master Bokushu’s... Read more