Yesterday I joined with forty-three other Zen teachers in writing to the Kanzeon Zen Center board offering our support and recommendations for a path forward in the wake of Genpo Merzel’s admission of another round of sexual misconduct at his centers.Sweeping Zen is archiving this and additional letters written by individuals. We, the undersigned Zen Buddhist teachers, endorse these recommendations to the Kanzeon Zen Center Board, and to whatever body governs the Big Mind trainings regarding the rehabilitation of Genpo... Read more

Thanks, Harry, for the pointer! What a fascinating story… Read more

The first part of this video is a statement from the First Unitarian Church of Providence, which I am honored to serve, and on whose behalf I am speaking. The second is what the Catholic Church thinks about the matter along with a comment from a random Christian Pentecostal… http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=e9460c4e89e5102ea6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=JAR&embed_player=1 Read more

The rest of you can listen in, if you want… Read more

The recent revelations of continuing sexual misconduct by Kanzeon Zen Center abbot and Big Mind originator Dennis Genpo Merzel, following as it does close on the heels of the scandal and clouded retirement of the Japanese missionary priest and founder of the Zen Studies Society, Eido Tai Shimano, has badly shaken the Western Zen mahasangha. As it should. Within the firestorm of complaint and allegation that finally sparked after many years of rumor, Shimano Roshi did everything he could to... Read more

Twenty-seven years in prison. A symbol for a nation yearning… Then, on this day in 1990, Nelson Mandela walked out a free man. And led his country through that yearning… Sometimes dreams become reality… Read more

Yesterday afternoon I traveled to the State House in support of the launch of legislation calling for marriage equality for the third time since I’ve come to Rhode Island to serve as minister of the First Unitarian Church. The place was packed. The major difference from my experience was that this was the first time I saw anybody coming in opposition. There weren’t a lot, but they made the best of the situation, standing as a phalanx on the interior... Read more

To the Editor of the Providence Journal, to our Legislators and to all People of Good Will: It was a step forward for our state when Governor Chaffee, as one of his first executive actions, revoked our former governor’s draconian anti-immigrant executive order. And I’m saddened that representatives Palumbo and Flaherty have now introduced legislation to reinstate what the governor called a vehicle of “divisiveness, incivility and distrust among (our) state’s citizens.” The economic arguments are complex and the place... Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2011 Contact: The Rev. James Ford, Senior Minister [email protected] First Unitarian Church of Providence Votes to Endorse Marriage Equality Official announcement to be made on Valentine’s Day, February 14th press conference Providence – By vote of the entire membership, the congregation of the First Unitarian Church of Providence has elected to endorse marriage equality in the state of Rhode Island. Further, they call upon Rhode Island’s legislators to pass the legislation now before them, and... Read more

Today is one of the days some Buddhists mark to recall the death of Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha of history. This is a good time to stop, maybe sit down, certainly shut up, and pay attention. Might notice something worth noticing… Let me respectfully remind you,life and death are of supreme importance.Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is losteach of us should strive to awaken… awaken.Do not squander your life. *** And here, as a special bonus, and at no... Read more