As I reflect on the nature of Zen come West I am near endlessly fascinated at the variety of its forms. No doubt the majority of folk who talk about Zen on social media have simply read a book, usually by Alan Watts, but perhaps a bit more deeply, and are more than happy to expound on the power of the moment. Good on them. I hope they enjoy themselves. Zen is also a marketing... Read more

    I’m visiting with an old friend who is in nursing care, and actually has just entered a hospice program. As he has trouble speaking we’ve settled into a pattern of my reading the psalms to him. This has given me a project to have a bit better sense of his ancient prayer book of both the Jewish and Christian traditions. What follows are some notes I’ve gathered about the background of the psalms. It’s just an outline. But... Read more

        Today, the 26th of June, the American Episcopal Church celebrates the life of Isabel Florence Hapgood. For me she’s particularly interesting in that she opened some fascinating doors for spiritual exploration. Born in Boston in 1851 to an affluent family, she had many of the advantages of that time and place. While her gender prevented her from following her twin brother to Harvard, she received good private tutoring and attended the first rate program at Miss Porter’s... Read more

      For me, today, the 25th of June is something of a holy day. I’ve described this day before. It is, as I said, a holy day for me… On this day in 1900 the Daoist monk Wang Yuanlu, was at work salvaging for ancient religious artwork in one of the ruined Caves of the Thousand Buddhas near Dunhuang. But today was special. In one of the caves he noticed a long hidden door. He opened it. That... Read more

        Today, the 24th of June, is Midsummer Day, the ancient European celebration of the summer. The solstice rolls around close to it, this year it was the 21st. In the development of the Christian liturgical calendar this date becomes significant because it becomes the feast of John the Baptist. As the forerunner of Jesus, his feast is set exactly six months from that of Jesus. That would be today. It sparks that little quip from scholars... Read more

      As it happens it was on this day, the 22nd of June in 1633 that Vincenzo Maculani da Firenzuola representing the Holy Office of the Inquisition, declared: “We pronounce, judge, and declare, that you, the said Galileo… have rendered yourself vehemently suspected by this Holy Office of heresy, that is, of having believed and held the doctrine (which is false and contrary to the Holy and Divine Scriptures) that the sun is the center of the world,... Read more

    Robert Aitken was born on this day, the 19th of June, in Philadelphia, in 1917. Soon after the family moved to Hawai’i. He is remembered as one of the first Westerners to be recognized as a Zen master. As it happens I’ve referenced him by name 139 times on my Monkey Mind blog. Here’s an appreciation I wrote, or more accurately culled out of earlier posts, for this date last year.  What follows are some words of his... Read more

      Frithjof Schuon was born in Basel, Switzerland, on this day, the 18th of June, in 1907. His mother was a francophone Alsatian while his father was German Swiss. His father, Paul was a concert violinist, and the family was a center of music, literature, and spirituality. The Schuon’s were progressive Catholics. From his childhood Schuon was obsessed with spiritual matters. While in primary school he became friends with Titus Burckhardt, who in time would gain renown as... Read more

        Today, the 17th of June, is celebrated in the Anglican communion as a feast for St Botwulf of Thorney. His feast is celebrated by other Western Christian communions as well, although on other dates. Details of his life are at best sketchy, most of what we know comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written some hundred years after his death. What caught me is that he is among a couple of other things, the patron saint of boundaries.... Read more

        A student of the intimate way asked Zhaozhou, “Why did Bodhidharma come from the West? Zhaozhou replied, “The Cypress Tree in the Garden.” Gateless Gate, case 37 I cannot say what a treat it was when I was offered the chance to review a new book from a California based publisher, Kales Press. I love smaller presses, and I especially am happy to see California based publishing. The book: Trees: An Anthology of Writings and Paintings... Read more