Question of the Week
For the past 20 or 30 years or so, a number of us have been meeting on a weekly basis to discuss topics of “Buddhist Methodist” import. Ten years or so ago (unlike most Methodists and a majority of Buddhists, our archives and record keeping are kept more spontaneously than rigorously) we started sending out a “question of the week” prior to our meeting in order to kick off our
discussion. Most of us, find the “discussion starters” to be quite useful, though a few find such a format restrictive. Nevertheless, recently, it was suggested I start posting these questions of the week here on our website., for the growing number of “non-locals” who find this site useful, or at least interesting. I’ll add more questions– both new and from the archives, as time and inclination allow.4/22/18 Question of the Week: Big I and Little I, Ram Dass , Don Juan and Joel Goldsmith
Good News about the Pandemic Supply and Demand
To help put myself to sleep at night, I’ve been reading a 500 page book on the history of modern economic science. I actually (secretly) find it quite fascinating. Surprisingly, the book (which I started many months ago) has …
Why I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts
“Don’t go out of your house or talk to your neighbor, or else you could die!” This seems to be the mood of the day. It’s a mood worth investigating, because we are taught to be deathly afraid of death. …
The New Buddhist-Methodist Hermetic (Taoist, Advaitaist,) Ten Commandments.
In a stunningly profound and beautiful book (at least to my sensibilities) explicating Christian Hermeticism*, I came across a new version of the Ten Commandments (yes, THE ten commandments) that I suspect I could study, muse upon and find ever-deeper …
A Leisurely Buddhist Methodist?
Don’t have a lot of time to compose this post today because the wife and I are heading off to the Denver Art Museum, with another couple of friends, to see the Claude Monet Exhibit. It’s so popular you need …
What to Wish Upon a Star
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. Or, they bring out the birthday cake and the candles are blazing, but before you blow them out, …
Basic Life Methods for Consistent Touchdowns
One of my basic, long-standing spiritual practices is reading, probably more than what is good for me, in a wide variety of spiritual, scientific, esoteric and literary genres. And doing so, alas, all at once. (I easily have 20 books …
Just Like Me– A sonnet, plus a line
(This poem might better be posted in my/our website, Heart Mountain Monastery, but it seems appropriate for this audience as well. So here it is:) We modern monks must stay anonymous, not wear funny robes, sport goofy haircuts. This …
My Yoke Is Easy: A Vote Against Clearly Set Goals and Rigid Rituals
“…one of the drawbacks of having clearly set goals and well-outlined master plans [is that] … unless you are careful, they can produce great pressures. Certainly, have a plan and keep it in the back of your mind. But don’t …
We Have Nothing New to Add
Finally, it has become quite clear to me: The New Buddhist Methodist Church, Satsang and Art Studio (NBMC) community is neither a new sect of the Christian Church nor a new lineage of the great Buddhist …
Let’s Make More Sanctuary Cities
An intentionally unemployed buddy recently mentioned that he read that restaurants here in our town are having a hard time finding enough workers. (A recently disappointing experience that my wife and I had with our favorite Thai restaurant would confirm …
