I’m currently reflecting on the nature of the spiritual life. This pushes me into a consideration of whether there is a common thread to religions, or whether its a bunch of wildly different religions, each contending to be the only true The smart money seems to be that its all chaos. But, I don’t think so. For several reasons. One is the Golden Rule. Now, most, maybe none consider it their primary teaching. But they all have it,... Read more

    The Gateless Barrier (sometimes Gateless Gate) (無門關 Wúménguān; Japanese: 無門関 Mumonkan) was first published on this day, the 5th of November, in 1228. And with that seven hundred and ninety-three years of admonition, invitation, and general all around Zen hilarity ensues… The Gateless Barrier is an anthology of forty-eight koans, those brief and seemingly enigmatic objects of meditation and conversation with a spiritual director that are unique to the Zen schools. It was compiled by Wumen Huikai (1183-1260),... Read more

    In 1904 George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon and an enthusiastic Egyptologist employed the archeologist Howard Carter to supervise a major excavation in Thebes. They proved an able team. In 1914 the earl received the concession to excavate the Valley of the Kings. The war disrupted their work. But not even counting this disruption the work was a slog and, by 1922 he was getting ready to move on. Carter felt he was near something and convinced the earl... Read more

    Today, the 3rd of November, the Anglican communion honors Richard Hooker, priest and theologian in its calendar of feasts. He was a central figure in the establishment of Anglicanism as a via media, a middle way between Catholicism and Protestantism. Hooker was also a beautiful writer. He articulated a “threefold cord not quickly broken” of Bible, church, and reason. It would evolve with Anglicanism into the “three-legged stool” of scripture, tradition, and reason. (The historical nitpickers among us,... Read more

    Mu: A Love Letter Tom Wardle Empty Moon Zen The Gateless Gate, Case One: Zhaozhou’s Dog A student of the way asked Zhaozhou (Joshu), “Has the dog Buddha nature or not?” Zhaozhou said, “Mu.” The Verse  Dog, Buddha nature— The full presentation of the whole; With a bit of “has” or “has not” Body is lost, life is lost I am really excited to be giving this talk today and I have been inspired by the many in... Read more

      Out near where my mother in law lives there’s a church called “All Saint’s Lutheran.” They also sport a directional sign for parking. It reads “This way for All Saints.” And appended under that, someone thoughtfully added, “And sinners, too…” It never fails to make me smile. And. Today is the feast of all saints. It the Western tradition it follows All Hallows eve and precedes the feast for All Souls. Like shadow and dawn. I think of... Read more

        I think of how it began for me. My first of many moments, my opening into the spiritual way. When I was a youth, I wanted to know God. Or, that God was a sham. Desperately. With all my heart. I even prayed that if God would reveal himself, herself, itself – in the next moment he, she, it could kill me. I meant it. What I got was silence. Silence. It can be a brick... Read more

      “To live in this world you must be able to do three things to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go” Mary Oliver Here’s a little secret. The spiritual life is our inheritance from before the creation of the stars and planets. No matter what else is so, there is this mysterious way and... Read more

    The Japanese Zen master Soyen Shaku died on this day, the 29th of October, in 1919. A prominent Rinzai master, he was invited to present a paper at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. The event was captured by the great Hindu teacher Swami Vivekananda. And even among the Buddhists present, the one most remembered at the time was Sri Lankan Anagarika Dhamapala. But for some, and for the establishment of Zen in the West, the most... Read more

      The other day my spouse Jan and I watched the PBS “American Masters” segment, “Becoming Helen Keller.” It was a real treat. And even more so for me as I saw Jan’s name scroll by in the credits among a bunch of people marked out for special “thanks.” A really good summary of Helen Keller’s life and contributions. In the program they made much of that turning point in the movie about Helen Keller, with the pump,... Read more