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
Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah and The Near Death Experience
“What can we do to enjoy a better December?“ This was the latest question of the week for our Sunday morning men’s group, (regularly held in my front living room. The group includes at least one atheist, several agnostics and …
Which is More Private: Sex, Religion or Money?
I would suggest for most of us we keep our money lives more private than either sex or religion. We also keep our sex lives private, of course and our religious understanding is shared mostly with family and fellow travelers. …
Every Home a Sanctuary Home
The Quakers sent me a neat poster this week with the words, “Sanctuary Everywhere.” Made me think I wanted to hang it in my window. Our local Unitarian Church recently offered sanctuary to a local woman – from Peru—whose application …
Al Franken, Ex-Giant of the Senate, by Al Franken
Obviously, this old post, written before Franken resigned, needs to be updated. But folks should read the book, maybe especially just now, to see what we have lost. This is a man of deep integrity, or so it seems from …
More Sandals on the Ground: Buddhist Methodist Solutions in Afghanistan
“An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.”—Thomas Paine I admit that for me, to pray for our Minority President and his generals and their approach to Afghanistan– —to meditate such that I can think …
10 Stocks I Own
Even Buddhists and Methodists– not to mentioon artists–need to pay the utility bill and put gas in the car. How do we do that? Wishing to live in a more open society, it recently struck me that we all keep …
One Word Prayer: Part 4: Light
Let’s admit that our culture is basically atheistic, even though a recent Gallop survey found that 89% of Americans say they believe in God. Another poll estimated believers at 79%, with 10% saying they don’t know. Still, it seems to …
Even if You’re Atheist or Agnostic…
I recently posted a review on Amazon of Pilgrimage, My Search for the Real Pope Francis, by Mark Shriver. I thought it was a great book. Here’s my review, so you don’t have to go to amazon if you don’t …
What Is The New Buddhist Methodist Church, Satsang and Artists’ Studio?
“I’ve studied deeply in the philosophies of religion, but cheerfulness kept breaking through.” — Leonard Cohen “It all comes back to . . .appetite for fruitful activity and a high quality life.“–George Bernard Shaw The New Buddhist Methodist Church is …
One Word Prayers: Part 3: Borderless
Prayers are meant to open us up to the world around us, and the world within. They are intentional mental, emotional and even physical actions, exercises, designed to help us tune into, and tune to, the deeper reality, (Deeper Reality) …
