The Indian spiritual and political leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on this day, the 2nd of October, in 1869 in Porbander, a town in present day Gujarat. Later he would universally come to be called Mahatma, or Great Soul. Interestingly, the title originally bestowed by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. Gandhi is a singular figure on the twentieth century public stage. His particular blending of spirituality and politics has left a wake of praise, and... Read more

      We’ve been waiting an age for the new concession stands to open up along Long Beach’s walking and biking paths. Finally three contracts have been issued, two for five years, Louisiana Charlie’s and Grill ’em All. And the third, more important to us as being right in our neighborhood, Saltwater Deck, for three years. There’s still another to come within our walking distance, but right now, I’m over the moon seeing Saltwater Deck has opened. It’s located... Read more

      Jalaladin Muhammad Balkhi, the wondrous Jalaladin Rumi was born on this day, the 30th of September, in 1207. I write about him every once in a while. Here, for instance, I devoted a whole dharma talk to him, for instance. In 2007 he got a lot of press as “America’s most beloved poet.” And you know, he probably still is. Rumi was a Muslim theologian, sometimes these days people slide over this fact, as well as a... Read more

  Miguel Serveto, Michael Servetus, was born in the Kingdom of Aragon today, the 29th of September, in 1509. Or, perhaps 1511. His father was from the minor nobility and worked as a notary. He earned both Batchelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Zaragoza. Later he studied law at the University of Toulouse. In his youth he traveled to Rome where he was appalled at the state of the papacy. This fired his decision to examine the scriptures... Read more

    Miquel de Cervantes Saavedra was born today, the 29th of September,  in 1547. Or, at least people concerned with these matters, are pretty sure that’s the date. Actually we’re not even certain that was his name. Maybe it was Cerbantes. Maybe he was a New Christian. Or, possibly not. His father was a barber/surgeon. The family moved a lot, and for some period of time his father was in debtor’s prison, and support for the family fell to... Read more

        I’ve been thinking a lot about religious calendars and the need for a universalist version. People have been working on these for a quite a while. Some are good. Most are not. Reconciling lunar and solar calendars only begins to note the problems. And. One date that definitely would belong is today, the 28th of September. By some forms of reckoning it was on this day, the 28th of September in the year 551 before our... Read more

      MAGIC LANDS Zen, Makyo, and the Loosening of the Bonds of Perception James Ishmael Ford As we embark on the spiritual path what we may have spent a lifetime thinking was real and concrete, rather quickly reveals it is not. Sometimes these disruptions of the old and intimations of something new are graces, disruptions of the world opening us into the mystery. More often these are something a bit different. I n Zen the term for these... Read more

      (Thomas Stearns Eliot was born on this day, the 26th of September, in 1888. He was an important thinker in my life. Should say is. I wrote a version of this appreciation  in 2018. From time to time I rework it a bit and share anew. I guess I’m hoping eventually to get it right. Here you go with my latest.) We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to... Read more

      LEAVING HOME, COMING HOME A Meditation on the Bodhisattva Way James Ishmael Ford Shishuang Chuyuan was once asked by Senior Monastic Quanming, “When does a single hair pierce innumerable holes?” Shishuang said, “Ten thousand years later.” Quanming said, “What will happen ten thousand years later?”Shishuang said, “It is you who will pass the examination and excel among people.” Later Quanming asked the same question of Zen master Hongyin of Jingshan [Faji]. Jingshan said, “You personally will have... Read more

  In the churches of the Anglican communion, including the Episcopal church calendar today, the 24th of September is the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham. It commemorates an apparition of Mary, Jesus’ mother, to an English noblewoman at the dawn of the eleventh century. Today they even have a YouTube channel. Me, I’ve always liked appearances of Mary, who I’ve noted elsewhere is flat out my favorite goddess. This particular feast represents a significant revival of pilgrimage within the... Read more