Happy Birthday To Me
Today is my birthday. In ancient times Zen monks would mark this day by writing a “death poem”. A death poem is one that tends to offer a reflection on death that is often coupled with a meaningful observation on life. Given my own history, I think I have a different view. I have now […]
Continue readingThe cost of whiteness?
If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. – Aboriginal activists group, Queensland, 1970s I believe that my liberation as a disabled, queer, poor person is directly tied to the liberation of […]
Continue readingA Question
The other day I found myself in discussion with a group of smart folks in which a dialogue developed around “speaking up” and particularly around repeatedly bringing something up. This brought up for me, yet again, an ongoing question that I often notice come up, particularly, when I am in conflict with other folks I […]
Continue readingRight Livelihood
“Right Livelihood is concerned with ensuring that one earns one’s living in a righteous way. For a lay disciple the Buddha teaches that wealth should be gained in accordance with certain standards. One should acquire it only be legal means, not illegally; one should acquire it peacefully, without coercion or violence; one should acquire it […]
Continue readingYear End Things..
I think being accountable and transparent is an important part of being ethical and devoted to healing. So much of my life and livelihood is supported by so many in such varieties of ways, that I am certain to not be able to speak to them all here. After all, causes and conditions are innumerable […]
Continue readingThesis: Definitions of Terms
I have always found it interesting how people define terms that they use. In this instance I found it necessary to define three terms: Oppression, Healing, and Community. As I was rereading it to post here, I can say that my feelings about these definitions are still there. Feel free to contact me if you […]
Continue readingPractice with Depression..
I have been having a bout of depression which has completely wiped out any ability to actually accomplish much in terms of actual work. As someone who has a long history of clinical depression and have had really had great luck with working medication, this has in some ways been a bit more difficult to […]
Continue readingJust Stay
Today on Facebook I wrote the following. Part of this comes from my recent focus on trying to write up an ethics statement. Part of it comes from the recent disclosures of yet another abusive teacher, supported by institutional misconduct. Iin recognition of the “not newness” of such a thing, I am feeling the need […]
Continue readingThesis: Healing and Experiencing Interdependence
I have been inspired by some recent posts by Rev. Jiryu Mark Rutschman-Byler over at the website No Zen in The West. He has posted two posts (First this one and then this one) that resonate with the third chapter of my thesis called “Paula Arai’s Theory of Experiencing Interdependence” I thought I would share […]
Continue readingGenerosity
I want to write today about the idea of Dana (often translated as “Generosity”). This is a central idea in Buddhism and one that I think is often confused and unclear for those of us operating in a capitalistic society. The limitations of our cultural relationship to money, support, and “success” leave us with an […]
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