Zen Liturgy in the West A talk by Professor Stephen Slottow 1 October 4 pm, room MRH (Music Recital Hall) 2.604, University of Texas, Austin abstract of the talk: Zen Buddhism has influenced Japanese traditional forms such as Noh theater and Shakuhachi music, Western composers such as John Cage, jazz musicians such as Keith Jarrett, and New Age and “mood” music, where it is used as a slightly faded exotic synonym for “relaxation.” However, Zen Buddhist practice has, so to... Read more

From today’s Shambhala Sunspace Readers of the Shambhala Sun may recall James Ishmael Ford from his article, “I Want to Be… Peaceful,” which kicked off our July 2012 issue’s special section on Buddhist meditations. Now Ford — who is also a guiding teacher of the rapidly-growing practice network, Boundless Way Zen, has a new book out called If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break: Field Notes from a Zen Life. We’re pleased to share with you here one of that... Read more

Freddy King was born on this day in 1934. Often called the third of the “Three Kings” of the electric blues guitar. Rolling Stone listed him as number fifteen on their list of the one hundred best guitarists of all time. Read more

Bread and Roses A Meditation on the Way of the Wise Heart James Ishmael Ford 2 September 2012 First Unitarian Church Providence, Rhode Island Text As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray, Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!” As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men, For they... Read more

I gather this was first posted on Facebook. It has been making some rounds. If you read it, you can see why. Thanks to my colleague Dennis McCarty for the pointer… An open letter to my daughter and her friends in college. Madeleine and Holly and Sarah and any other young woman who happens to be standing around: Get yourselves registered to vote and then go do so. Did I ask if you felt informed enough? No, I didn’t. Did... Read more

They buried Neil Armstrong yesterday. But dreams of visiting the moon are ancient. Ancient. One small marker on the way before that wondrous actual walk happened on this day in 1902, when Georges Melies’ A Trip to the Moon premiered in France… If you have ten minutes, here it is… Read more

I’m doing a little research on the song Bread and Roses in anticipation of this Sunday’s sermon, the title of which is derived from the poem by James Oppenheimer, written in 1911, and which has become a classic labor song. It was first set to music by Caroline Kohlsaat. The text and setting appears in the current Unitarian Universalist hymnal “Singing the Living Tradition,” listed as “As We Come Marching, Marching.” I was unable to find a Youtube version, and... Read more

Remembering the Reverend W. Edward Harris (1935-2012) The Ministries and Faith Development staff offers our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Reverend W. Edward Harris who died on August 10, 2012. He was 77 years old. Rev. Harris was born in Tampa, FL on June 17, 1935 to Ira Walter Harris and Ruth Hope Duss. Soon after, his father remarried and he was raised by Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Harris, whom he referred to as his mother. He attained... Read more

If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break: Field Notes from a Zen Life Three Reader Reviews at Amazon I have been trying to decide what is the best way to describe how I feel after reading this book. Inspired doesn’t encompass enough of it. Wiser, possibly, as I’ve learned through Rev. Ford’s numerous real – life stories and clear teachings and feel like I was right there with him during the last five decades. I enjoyed reading about his initial... Read more

On this day in 1955 fourteen year old Emmett Till, while visiting relatives in Mississippi from his home in Chicago was abducted and then brutally murdered. His offense had been talking to a young white woman. The nation recoiled in horror. For many this marks the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Ironically on this same day two years later Senator Strom Thurmond began the longest filibuster conducted by a single senator in history, lasting twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes,... Read more