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My Journey of Conscience

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Select a Category Practical Challenges to Helping Reflections on Religion Relating to the World Spiritual Practice Spiritual Questions about Suffering Taking Action In Person Uncategorized Wrestling with the Issues Zen Teachings & Practices

Select a Month August 2024 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014

August 2024

August 01, 2024

Calming Your Mind Buddhist-Style

In recent weeks, given the political turmoil in the world, I've heard from a lot of...

January 2017

January 12, 2017

Meditation: Why it Helps, Even Though it’s Not Doing Anything

Those of us who practice meditation sometimes have a hard time explaining the practice to...

November 2016

November 22, 2016

The Wise Use of Anger – A Lesson for (Us) Namby-Pamby Liberals

In my last two posts I have counseled thoughtfulness, caution, and compassion in our speech...

September 2016

September 16, 2016

Step One – Commit to Stillness, Don’t React

When we decide to study our life, when we are determined to face the truth...

September 06, 2016

What Zen “Acceptance” and “Non-Attachment” Really Are

The practices of acceptance and non-attachment are critical to Zen and Buddhist practice - but...

August 2016

August 19, 2016

Slackin’ Off in the Summertime: Cycles of Spiritual Practice

I've come to trust the cycles of practice. I know that sometimes I'll be on fire...

August 12, 2016

Beyond Mindfulness: The Radical Practice of Unified Presence

I am going to present an alternative to mindfulness practice. I do this because I...

July 2016

July 22, 2016

The Fallacy “It’s All In Your Mind”: Why What We Do Matters

Spiritual training can result in almost miraculous effects. People training in all different kinds of...

July 15, 2016

Don’t Think You Understand

Don’t think you understand It. On the other hand, don’t think you don’t understand It....

July 01, 2016

10 Ways to Energize Your Meditation

Most forms of meditation, by definition, are pretty boring. If a meditation technique was entertaining...

June 2016

June 27, 2016

Enlightenment Is Real

In Buddhism we have a very useful but tricky concept called, alternatively, Enlightenment, Nirvana, Liberation...

May 2016

May 13, 2016

From Delusion to Illusion: The Freedom of Disbelief

I used to believe that life was pointless. Sure, there were enjoyable moments in life,...

March 2016

March 21, 2016

Transforming the World by Transforming Your Heart

I suspect the phrase “transforming your heart” resonates with many of you, even if you aren’t...

February 2016

February 10, 2016

You Have to Be Your Own Fan (Even If You’re Pathetic Sometimes)

If your self-confidence never wavers, if you are thoroughly convinced of your own worthiness –...

January 2016

January 29, 2016

Practicing within Sickness and Pain

I'm not writing this post because I'm an expert on practicing with sickness and pain....

January 19, 2016

Invoking “The More”

"...the finitude of mundane existence cannot satisfy the human heart completely. Built into the human...

December 2015

December 21, 2015

Five Sure Ways to Improve Family Relationships during the Holidays

Nothing's better than family at showing you where you still fall short of your own...

July 2015

July 25, 2015

The Burden of Atheism

Lately I've been working on a book on meditation. It's involved extensive research into other...

July 14, 2015

Dogen and My Journey to Oneness with a Flower

At my Zen center right now we're studying one of the most treasured Zen texts: Zen...

May 2015

May 13, 2015

The Radical Effort of Non-Effort (Meditate Is Not a Verb)

I teach 8-10 new people to "do" Zen meditation every month. At times I feel...

April 2015

April 02, 2015

What Good Is Religion, Anyway?

When I contemplate the GOOD of my religion, I immediately start to think about some...

March 2015

March 09, 2015

Missing Kyogen Carlson and His Dharma

At my Zen Center last Sunday we read and discussed a beautiful teaching from Kyogen...

March 07, 2015

When Religion Refrains From Explaining “Why”

If religion’s purpose is to help people find peace and strength and to live good...

February 2015

February 27, 2015

Everyone Is on a Path Toward Greater Wisdom and Compassion

A friend of mine has a saying, “It takes all kinds of people to make...

February 20, 2015

Remembering There’s Nothing We Can Do to Prevent Change

Sometimes I notice stress sneaking into my life. It starts accumulating under the surface of...

February 07, 2015

When It’s Time to Speak Out as a People of Faith

Last week one of the largest Zen Centers in the U.S. published an open letter...

December 2014

December 17, 2014

Questions Are More Important Than Answers

Everyone wants answers. We figure answers tell us how to live more happily. Answers let...

November 2014

November 27, 2014

A Confession of Race-based Fear

I feel moved to confess something about my own race-based fear, prompted by this passage...

November 26, 2014

Bringing Racism and Violence into the Meditation Hall

At my Zen center last night I took the risk of departing from our regularly-scheduled...

November 25, 2014

Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

Humans have been struggling with this dilemma for ages: God is good - even synonymous...

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