Zen, Maundy Thursday, and the Mysteries of Memory and Communion

Last updated on: April 6, 2023 at 8:51 am By James Ford

Zen, Maundy Thursday, and the Mysteries of Memory and Communion James Ishmael Ford There are three rituals associated with Jesus’ ministry. The first is baptism, which he continued from his teacher, John’s ministry. The other two are foot washing and communion. These last two are marked out for observing today, Holy Thursday, or in some communities as Maundy Thursday. I don’t know why one, foot washing, remained in most of the Christian community an occasional act, while the other, communion... Read more

How to Prepare and Deliver a (Zen) Dharma Talk

Last updated on: April 2, 2023 at 12:41 pm By James Ford

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HOW TO PREPARE AND DELIVER A (ZEN) DHARMA TALK James Ishmael Ford “So the hymn comes to a close with an unsteady amen, and the organist gestures the choir to sit down. Fresh from breakfast with his wife and children and a quick run through of the Sunday papers, the preacher climbs the steps to the pulpit with his sermon in hand. He hikes his black robe at... Read more

NOT KILLING: A Consideration of Zen’s First Grave Precept

Last updated on: April 2, 2023 at 4:30 pm By James Ford

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NOT KILLING A Consideration of Zen’s First Grave Precept James Ishmael Ford Death and with it, killing is a great conundrum. Half of the conundrum of life and death. The fact of it. And how we engage it. Even, actually, how we think about it. One of the axioms of our Zen way is that everything, including our inner states have consequences. So, going for the hard thing, going toward the heart of the matter, what about death and especially... Read more

Nelson Mandela Raises his Fist: A Meditation on a Zen Koan

Last updated on: March 29, 2023 at 12:46 pm By James Ford

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Nelson Mandela Raises his Fist: A Meditation on a Zen Koan James Ishmael Ford The Case Zhaozhou Congshen went to a hermit’s cottage. At the entrance he called out, “Anybody in? Anybody in?” The hermit appeared in the doorway and lifted up his fist. Zhaozhou replied, “The water is too shallow for a ship to anchor.” And he left. Later, he went to a hermit’s cottage and at the entrance asked, “Anybody in? Anybody in?” This hermit lifted up his... Read more

Zen Comments on an Ancient Koan: Baofu and Changqing Go on a Picnic

Last updated on: March 28, 2023 at 9:21 am By James Ford

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ZEN COMMENTS ON AN ANCIENT KOAN Baofu and Changqing Go on a Picnic Blue Cliff Record, Case 23 Ken Ireland (Reprinted with permission from Koan Conversations by my old friend Ken Ireland. Ken is someone to know. Ken began meditation practice in the early 70’s while a Jesuit. Claudio Naranjo introduced him to zazen as well as the Enneagram. He also introduced Ken to Master C.M. Chen, who went to Tibet in 1929. Ken has studied and practiced with both... Read more

(Zen) Buddhism and the Coming Revolution

Last updated on: March 28, 2023 at 7:58 am By James Ford

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(Zen) Buddhism and the Coming Revolution Gary Snyder I first shared this essay four or five years ago. For some of us I think it a timely re-read. For others maybe it can be a useful first read. It was originally published as “Buddhist Anarchism,” in the first of the four issue run of the Journal for the Protection of All Beings. As that first version of the essay was published in 1961 it becomes one of the very first broadsides... Read more

Recalling the Western Zen Master Charlotte Joko Beck

Last updated on: April 2, 2023 at 4:31 pm By James Ford

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Recalling the Western Zen Master Charlotte Joko Beck Charlotte Joko Beck was born on this day, March 27th, in New Jersey, in 1917. Sadly, I can say little more about her early life. She attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and spent some years as a pianist and piano teacher. She married. They had four children. After separating from her husband Charlotte worked at various things, including as a teacher, a secretary, and an administrative assistant at... Read more

Marking the First Publication of the Book of Mormon

Last updated on: March 26, 2023 at 9:12 am By James Ford

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Marking the First Publication of the Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon was first published on this day, the 26th of March in 1830, in Palmyra, New York. The Book is one of various sacred texts to be first published here in North America in European languages. There are a number. Isis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology, the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, Science and Health with... Read more

HELL IN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION : Some Notes for a Larger Reflection on Universalism

Last updated on: March 25, 2023 at 9:09 pm By James Ford

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HELL IN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION Some Notes for a Larger Reflection on Universalism James Ishmael Ford After creating the Heavens and the Earth, God created a garden east of Eden and populated it with everything that is good to eat and is pleasant to see. The Divine also planted the tree of everlasting life as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God then created the man and the woman. And the Divine said to... Read more

Does Paul Quote Jesus? A Quick Look & a Fascinating Observation

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 8:10 am By James Ford

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Does Paul Quote Jesus? A Quick Look & a Fascinating Observation James Ishmael Ford Someone recently observed in my hearing that Paul never quotes Jesus in his collected and published letters. I was caught by that observation and decided to dig into it. I proceeded to unravel a couple of facts out of the mess of the Christian scriptures. First, the assertion isn’t precisely true. There’s a very interesting quote at 1 Timothy 5:18, where the writer cites “Scripture” but... Read more