The prophet Mani died on this day, the 2nd of March in the year 274. That is unless he died on the 26th of February, in 277. His birth name is unknown, Mani is a title, probably meaning Enlightened Lord. He was likely born in 216 in what is now Iraq in the Babylonian district of the town Mardinu. His mother was a Parthian, possibly named Maryam. His father Patek was a member of the Elcesaites, a gnostic Jewish Christian... Read more
Reflecting on Nonduality and Zen and the Shape of a Spiritual Life Today James Ishmael Ford A couple of years ago David Loy’s monumental study Nonduality was released in a second edition. That book was very important to me in the first edition, and new edition invited me to a second look. As I noted that was a couple of years ago. I reflected on it then. And, by accident yesterday I stumbled on those comments and thought with a... Read more
A Zen Meditation on Christian Communion James Ishmael Ford As anyone interested in Christian origins no doubt knows, the informed assumption of the academic community is that between Jesus’ death and the writing of the gospels there appear to have been two traditions passed on, orally for sure, possibly in writing as well. One was a collection of Jesus’ sayings. The fabulous and never found “Q” document. This is one of the reasons people got so excited when the Nag... Read more
Recalling Johnny Cash & A Consideration of Love as a Zen Koan Or, How to Become a Buddha of Fire James Ishmael Ford Burning burning burning burning O Lord Thou Pluckest me out O Lord thou pluckest T. S. Eliot, the Waste Land Johnny Cash was born on this day, the 26th of February, in 1932. He was the middle of seven children. Like many Americans the family claimed some Native American inheritance, although a later DNA test... Read more
Karl Jaspers and the Path of the Spiritual if not Religious James Ishmael Ford Karl Theodor Jaspers was born on this day, the 23rd of February, 1883, Oldenburg, in Lower Saxony, in Germany. He began studying law but changed to medicine, taking his doctorate in 1908. Two years later he married Gertrud Mayer. Three years after his marriage Jaspers began teaching psychology at the University of Heidelberg. By 1921 he had completely shifted his focus to philosophy.... Read more
Ash Wednesday: A Small Zen Meditation James Ishmael Ford “You should realize that although firewood is at a dharma-stage of firewood, and that this is possessed of before and after, the firewood is at the same time independent, completely cut off from before, completely cut off from after. Ashes are the dharma-stage of ashes, which also has a before and after. Just as firewood does not revert to wood once it has turned to ash, human beings do not return... Read more
Here in the Los Angeles area there was a breaking news story. A local Catholic bishop had died. A gun was involved. There was little information more than that. In the moment it felt to me like it was very possibly a suicide. A sadness. Always. The news cycle is moving on. And now it looks like a homicide. Another sadness. But at the moment it triggered a cascade of feelings and thoughts about suicide. I wish anyone... Read more
Finding Zen Teachers & Spiritual Directors James Ishmael Ford Empty Moon Zen “Vigorous people who study and practice Zen: You absolutely must meet a dharma teacher who, through right view, embodies the Way. Then stay close and serve them for three-five years. Ask for their instructions for body, speech, and mind; carefully, precisely follow their instructions for body, speech, and mind. First, awaken ‘withered tree, dead ash.’ Next, use a bamboo staff and all day long, month after month, knock... Read more
Getting Away & Coming Home: Zen Retreats and a Note on What to Do When You Can’t James Ishmael Ford “Above all things, love silence.” Isaac of Nineveh As an old Zen hand, I’m reluctant to tell non-Zen friends I’m off to a retreat. When I do, too often the response is something along the line of, “Boy, I could use some downtime myself.” Me, too. But that “down time” is far from a description of a Zen retreat.... Read more
Love and Death: A Small Zen Meditation on Valentine’s Day James Ishmael Ford I notice the semi-sort-of Christian holiday St Valentine’s Day will be followed in a week and a day by the Christian holy day Ash Wednesday. Basically. I love you. And you’re going to die. Works for me. Me. I think a lot about love. What it is and what it is not. Heck, recently I wrote a whole sermon on love. I’m particularly taken with the two... Read more
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