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Eastern Religions
Zen, Connection, and Mindfulness: A Journey Beyond Doctrine
Dec 13, 2024 by Larry Jordan
Mindfulness and spiritual practice help us to realize our connectedness to everyone and everything.
The Benefits of Exploring Other Traditions
Jul 18, 2024 by Larry Jordan
The benefits of exploring other traditions are numerous. So, it is helpful to understand both the similarities and the differences in religious beliefs and practices.
Zen and Spiritual Practice
Jul 12, 2024 by Larry Jordan
Zen is not concerned with prescription or speculation. Buddhism is mostly concerned with practice, not belief.
Zen and Interdependence
Jul 04, 2024 by Larry Jordan
Dogen Zenji encourages us to remove the barrier between self and other.
Zen and the Self
Jun 27, 2024 by Larry Jordan
Buddhism does not believe in a permanent, unchanging self. Of course, each of us has forms, feelings, perceptions, thoughts, and awareness.
An Introduction to Zen
Jun 20, 2024 by Larry Jordan
Buddhism embraces a different worldview than most Western religions. Zen is experiential, not intellectual.
Pragmatic Buddhist Book Discussion Group
Mar 20, 2024 by Larry Jordan
On April 7, the Pragmatic Buddhist Book Discussion Group will be discussing "The Way" on a Meetup zoom call.
Natural Life and True Self
Apr 30, 2023 by Larry Jordan
Many seekers believe that self is a construct, soul is a fiction, and free will is an illusion. As Thomas Merton says, "We all live lives of self-impersonation." For Hindus, True Self is Brahman or Oneness, lack of separation. For Buddhists, True Self is "no-self" or Void, lack of separation.
Zen Practice: Sesshin (silent retreat)
Dec 12, 2022 by Larry Jordan
We just returned from a week-long sesshin, consisting of six- to eight-hours a day of zazen (seated meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation) interspersed with chanting, chores, and tea ceremonies, as well as dokusan (private meetings) and teisho (public talks) with a Zen teacher.
The Perennial Philosophy
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
Bede Griffiths was a Benedictine monk and a Hindu sannyasi, who integrated Eastern and Western worldviews.
Speaking Truth to Power
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
I spent 25 years as a public finance investment banker, helping clients, which were cities, counties, school districts, and special districts, to borrow money for cash flows and capital projects.
"Meeting the Fire"
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
Eastern spirituality teaches us to “renounce the fruits of action” or the outcomes of effort.
The Forest Dwellers
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
The Forest Dweller leaves a house for a cottage, renounces material pleasures, retires from professional and social life, and undertakes a life of contemplation and spiritual pursuits.
Ideology and Theology
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
In “The Power of Myth,” Joseph Campbell meets with a sociologist and a Shinto priest. When the sociologist remarks, “I don’t get your ideology. I don’t get your theology,” the Shinto priest responds, “We don’t have ideology. We don’t have theology. We dance.”
The Mayor of Everywhere
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
The Buddha developed a sense of detachment, which eliminated many distinctions. Similarly, Jesus de-emphasized the physical family, as compared to the spiritual family.
"Enjoy Every Sandwich"
Aug 05, 2022 by Larry Jordan
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) attained enlightenment through the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
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