Last night, Jan, Mo, and I went to see Jojo Rabbit. I’m still processing. Bob Mondello at NPR tell us, “Jojo Rabbit is gently comic for a while, and then surprisingly affecting at the end, so perhaps it’s not fair to wish that Waititi had opted to deal more directly with the horrors of the Third Reich. We are, after all, living in a time when fascism is again a growing threat.” Which, of course, raises a bunch... Read more
Join Us for An Intensive Zen Meditation Retreat, adapted for non-residential attendance. Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 8 University Unitarian Church, 6556 – 35th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98155 In the Zen tradition, December calls us to steadily intensify practice in daily life, inspired by the Buddha’s awakening together with the world and all beings, upon seeing the morning star on the eighth day of the twelfth month (Rohatsu). The Zen Practice Groups of University Unitarian Church and Woodinville UU... Read more
Coming and Going Sesshin 2020 Three-week Residential and Non-Residential Open House Meditation Retreat January 3 – 24, 2020 Boundless Way Temple, Worcester, MA www.worcesterzen.org Please join us at our annual open house Zen retreat at Boundless Way Temple.We will be open every day from 6 am to 9 pm during this sesshin.Here are all the ways that you can take part: Join our residential practice by staying at the Temple overnight for one or more nights.... Read more
As is my wont, I have been thinking about the Soto Zen mission to North America and the West. A lot. Part of what I see is that the Zen schools have absolutely arrived, including Soto. And that’s kind of wonderful. At the foundation are the Soto missions. In 1922, after establishing a temple in Honolulu, Hosen Isobe established the first Soto mission on North American soil in Los Angeles. From that foundation Zenshuji Soto Mission would... Read more
I see that Mary Travers was born on this day, the 9th of November in 1936. She died in 2009. In between those years she did many things, but most notable for most of us was as a member of the trio Peter, Paul and Mary. She touched many hearts, including mine… 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-one 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
Last night Jan & I saw Harriet. It is a bio pic and has the problems such films usually do. That said, the bottom line is that it is a wonderful movie. Beautifully made, if occasionally by the numbers, but frankly, at that bottom line, inspiring. So, I was a little surprised to learn it has become controversial. Kellie Caeter-Jackson at The Washington Post tells us “the film captures the historical reality of how women challenged slavery by... Read more
It was on this day, the 4th of November, in 1923, just shy of three weeks after his excavation team uncovered steps Howard Carter hoped would lead to the Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb, that the archeologist unsealed what would prove one of the great Egyptian treasure troves. As he looked into the darkness illuminated by a single candle, he was asked anxiously if he saw anything. Carter responded “Yes. Wonderful things.” Today one might consider that a bit of... Read more
In the traditional Christian calendar today is the feast of All Saints. This is a holy day I count as important, linked as it is to both All Hallow’s Eve and All Soul’s Day, a mysterious trifecta. However, within some circles, particularly those called “folk Catholics” this is also the feast of Santa Muerte, Saint Death, or Holy Death, or most formally Our Lady of the Holy Death. A lesser holiday, but one with compelling aspects. I’ve noted this... Read more
Today is the 31st of October. In the Western calendar today is Halloween. In my corner of the world Halloween is basically about small children, and sometimes not so small putting on disguises and hoping to extort candy from their neighbors. And, yes, for some adults costume and alcohol driven parties. At the same time there is something thing more important to our human psyche being offered. I’ve reflected on this in the past. I suspect... Read more
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