2011-10-27T06:19:00-07:00

At least according to Wikipedia, on this day in 312, the would be emperor of the Rome and its domains, the general Constantine would have his famous vision of a cross floating in the sky, and a mysterious voice whispering in his ear, “With this sign, conquer…” At least in my book it’s been sort of downhill for Christianity ever since… Read more

2011-10-26T10:38:00-07:00

The current “Whose Are We?” program being foisted upon UU clergy turns on an anecdote about the Quaker theologian and activist, Douglas Steere. He wrote that the perennial question “Who am I?” inevitably leads to a “deeper” one, “Whose am I?” Among the advocates for this program within my little UU clergy world the assumption out of this is that as we have no identity outside of relationship, that no one is autonomous in the final analysis, this question of... Read more

2011-10-25T16:00:00-07:00

According to Wikipedia, on this day in 1938 “The Archbishop of Dubuque, Francis J. L. Beckman, denounces swing music as ‘a degenerated musical system… turned loose to gnaw away at the moral fiber of young people,’ warning that it leads down a ‘primrose path to hell.'” Perhaps the good bishop was thinking of Benny Goodman who did this that year… Read more

2011-10-24T10:38:00-07:00

I’ve just learned the noted Buddhist scholar John R. McRae has died in Bankok. He earned his doctorate at Yale, taught widely and wrote several very important books, including The Northern School and the Formation of Early Ch’an Buddhism, and Seeing Through Zen. The Zensite hosts a review by the erudite “Vladimir K” of this later book, fully titled Seeing Through Zen: Encounter, Transformation, and Genealogy in Chinese Chan Buddhism. It begins “John McRae’s latest book will surely upset some... Read more

2011-10-24T09:07:00-07:00

A friend (thank you, Jeff!) sent me a link to this. And I thought it really, really worth sharing. It’s a website based upon a book, now in its sixth edition, Who Rules America, by G. William Domhoff. Important caveat! Not to be confused with a website devoted to White Supremacism. Some Q&A; on the Home Page: Q:  So, who does rule America? A:  The owners and managers of large income-producing properties; i.e., corporations, banks, and agri-businesses. But they have... Read more

2011-10-23T14:09:00-07:00

I think of koans as messages from the heart of the universe. They are statements about reality that invite, and sometimes demand a response. And not just any response, but your response, my response. From the heart of being. Your being.My being. So, a koan, an anecdote collected in two twelfth century Chinese anthologies of spiritual guidance, as case fifty-four of the Book of Serenity and as case eighty-nine of the Blue Cliff Record. The case turns on two brothers... Read more

2011-10-22T19:45:00-07:00

Over at the wonderful blog No Zen in the West, Zen priest David Rutschman has been reflecting on the nature of text and translation as it relates particularly to the writings of the great Zen master Eihei Dogen. David has been doing some serious commuting, not only lots of time in transit, but also in delving into the writings of the old master. As he says, “It’s taken me quite a bit longer than I hoped to find the time... Read more

2011-10-21T09:30:00-07:00

Mr Steven Pare Commissioner of Public Safety City of Providence Rhode Island Dear Commissioner Pare, First, I want to thank you for how you’ve dealt with Occupy Providence, so far. Your responsibilities are heavy, assuring the safety and welfare of all who visit, work and live in the city of Providence. Knowing how complex all this is, I have to thank you for the generous way you and the police and others with these responsibilities have dealt with the Occupy... Read more

2011-10-20T13:43:00-07:00

Elsie Mitchell died on Monday, the 17th of October, 2011, at her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mrs Mitchell was a pioneer of convert Buddhism in the West. In 1957, she, together with her husband John, D.T. Suzuki and Shinichi Hisamatsu founded the Cambridge Buddhist Association. She was a friend and mentor to many. David Chadwick archived a number of materials on Mrs Mitchell. I think you’ll find it well worth a visit. Read more

2011-10-19T08:49:00-07:00

Peter Tosh was born on this day in 1944… Read more

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