Sometimes I say there is a spiritual undertone to my activism. Other times I think there is an activist tone to my spirituality. Ha! Actually, in these times, for me, spirituality = activism and activism = spirituality. These are hard words both for some in spirituality and some in activism, I know. Spiritual people are suspicious […]
Spirituality and Personal Growth
The Activity of Spirituality and the Spirituality of Activism
What do spirituality and activism have to do with each other? “If your mind does not run off searching or think falsely or get involved with objects, then this very burning house of passion is itself the place to escape the three worlds.” –Zen Master Ta Hui Also, in the Abrahamic traditions there is a […]
The place of desire
I think a lot about the place of desire. An incorrect relationship to desire, I believe, has got us in this mess. Certainly an incorrect relationship to desire has often got me in a mess! On the other hand, I don't believe desires are meant to be eradicated. Desires are part of the grand scheme. […]
One American’s effort to bond over our shared concerns intead of fighting over our differences
I've been worried for a long time that the entire world is held up in solving its problems by the division in the American political system. It's the Republicans' fault. No, it's the Democrats' fault. No, it's the Republicans' fault. No, it's the Democrats' fault. No, it's the Republicans' fault. No, it's the Democrats' fault. […]
When saving the world threatens to overwhelm you
This piece comes from my Zen school's newsletter and I just thought it was perfect in the face of all we're dealing with in environment. It's a gift for all of you who are working to save the world for the rest of us. The first part is a letter from a student to Zen […]
One thing I can always do
People ask me all the time what they can do to help. I have a list of things that you can find here. But there are times when it seems like nothing I can possibly do on that list or any thing else help the world. I don’t mean to sound pious, as if I […]
A little snippet from my book
Something happened yesterday that reminded me of this little snippet of my book No Impact Man which comes out in September and which you can pre-order from Amazon, BN.Com, and online from your local independent bookseller: I watched a video of Pema Chödrön, a Buddhist nun, discussing the reaction of New York citizens when the […]
The Fool’s journey
Now this post is going to seem a little strange–I’ll warn you in advance–but I happen to have been reading about tarot cards. Apparently, the 22 cards of the “major arcana“–the heart of the tarot deck–can be taken, in order, to symbolize the stages of a person’s inner growth. The “Fool’s journey,” as the complete […]