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
Recalling the Consecration of Barbara Harris as the first woman to serve as a bishop within the Anglican Communion Barbara Harris was consecrated as suffragan bishop for the diocese of Massachusetts within the Episcopal Church on this day, the 11th of February, in 1989. From her election on September 24th, 1988, there was opposition. Vile messages and death threats were sent to her. She was asked to wear a bullet proof vest for the consecration, but... Read more
Zen, a New Universalism, and Politics James Ishmael Ford Since the nineteenth century, more or less the word “Religion” has come to describe that part of a culture concerned with meaning and purpose. It has two principal expressions. One is about defining and reinforcing the boundaries of a culture. This has always been the principal purpose of religion as an artifact of society. A great deal of energy is put to the issue of who is... Read more
“The priest Xiangyan (Kyogen) said, ‘It is as though you were up in a tree, hanging from a branch with your teeth. Your hands and feet can’t touch any branch. Someone appears beneath the tree and asks, ‘What is the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming from the West?’ If you do not answer, you evade your responsibility. If you do answer, you lose your life. What do you do?’” Gateless Gate, Case 5 James Ishmael Ford For me, my spiritual... Read more
Today, the 7th of February, in 1497, caught up in a madness of regret and purification stirred by preaching of the Dominican Friar Girolamo Savonarola, the people of Florence gathered together what they and the good friar considered temptations into sin, piled them up, and lit them as bonfires. These objects included clothing, cosmetics, mirrors, musical instruments, playing cards, and paintings. Lots of art. And lots and lots of books… It was called the falò... Read more
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