I’ve been quite excited and a little worried with the rise of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The excitement because finally, finally, people are noticing we’ve had dirt thrown in our eyes and have been misdirected from the root causes of the current slide toward an even harsher divide between the richest of rich and the rest of us. The poor are becoming more numerous. The middle classes are ever more precarious. And the rich, well, they just keep getting... Read more

It is the season, after all… Thanks, Joseph… Read more

Thank you, Rachel! Read more

Comedian Zarganar Released Early From 35 Year Sentence Democratic Voice of BurmaBy AFPPublished: 12 October 2011 Burma freed one of its most famous political prisoners on Wednesday under an amnesty that was expected to include at least dozens more dissidents jailed in the authoritarian state. The freedom of an estimated 2,000 political prisoners, who include pro-democracy campaigners, journalists, monks and lawyers, has long been a key demand of Western powers that have slapped sanctions on Burma. Zarganar, a prominent comedian... Read more

I notice an Associated Press story today about the now global demonstrations arising under the banner “Occupy Wall Street,” and a violent turn at some of the European events, particularly Rome, asserting how the protests that tumbled into riots were “part of demonstrations against capitalism…” Possibly. Possibly in some circles, possibly among some subset among the Anarchists one of the groups that have gathered under the banner for their own purposes. Let me assert the demonstration I leave for in... Read more

One of the interesting things happening at Occupy Wall Street and its vast net of affiliates are meditation flash mobs. I just love it. Obviously a motley crew, representing who knows how many traditions. But, it gives me some hope that mindfulness by many names is part of this deal. On that subject, Maia Duerr, former executive director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and currently director of the Upaya Buddhist Chaplaincy Program, compiled a listing of some Buddhist reflections on... Read more

Paul Simon celebrates his 70th birthday today… Read more

Back in my infancy when a young monk in a Zen temple at that time located in Oakland, California, my then teacher Jiyu Kennett Roshi was gifted by Alan Watts with a copy of the autobiography, or as it said on the cover, autohaigography of Aleister Crowley. The Zen teacher and the Zenish philosopher had become friends, and at the time he was helping get her first book through the hoops of his publisher, Pantheon. The book had come to... Read more

Marking the life of Dr Frank Kameny, who stood up against the weight of social convention and in favor of the human rights of the gay community… Read more

A Few Words on Zen Practice 10 October 2011 Jan Seymour-Ford, Senior Dharma Teacher Practice Leader, Benevolent Street Zendo I’d like to say a few words about our practice together, and why it’s important. Lately there’s a crew of folks who are training to become chant leaders. If you’ve arrive a few minutes early for our sitting period, you’ve probably seen us here. It’s lovely that so many people who are willing to serve the sangha. Boundless Way Zen has... Read more