synthesis

I will tell you from experience because I have lost a son. It was his death that prompted me to embark on a very serious philosophical journey that mo...

Keep in mind that The Buddha developed his teachings because he realized that only the truly exceptional could realize the truth, i.e., attain clarity...

In Zen, there is "understanding," and there is "UNDERSTANDING." It is often advised to allow those with the later "certified" understanding to do the ...

Let's say that man blows-up the planet and all that's left is space dust. Everybody's problems are solved, right? Why worry about such a thing? I assu...

People get rich two ways...either they are working very hard at an endeavor that is rare and pays very well or they are taking somebody else's labor v...

I am not a Zen teacher so I have no "credentials" to be explaining this kind of thing, but let me tell you this much. The reason Zen is so confusing (...

I believe that all corporate charters should be revoked immediately. Afterwards, only non-profit corporations should be given 10 year charters like th...

Seeking a nice simple, balanced life intellectually is a whole different situation than realizing it non-intellectually. There is absolutely nothing w...

I've been a dedicated Soto Zen student for the past 30+ years and came to it from a very intense philosophical crisis. What attracted me to Soto Zen (...

When you are a mom or dad, that is your primary job. Before or after that responsibility, you might have the opportunity to pursue full-time practice....

I don't know what your experience is, but it's generally not a matter of resources, instead, a matter of priority.

There are so few people who really delve deeply. About fifteen years ago, I took two years off and devoted myself to full-time meditation practice. I ...

I am sure the first telegraph message was something like... "Can I meet you behind the barn tonight?" :)

My friend, I have never met anybody who likes pollution or did not take reasonable measures to do what they can to help in that regard. Are you thinki...

Although keep in mind that when a new form of communication is introduced, it is pornography, politics and religion that are the BIG THREE initial use...

Had it been The Buddha's way, he would have just whacked you over the head!

I think that most people seem to be satisfied with what religion has to offer and do not wish to take it further (or are not aware that there is any f...

Perhaps, like many, you have dedicated yourself to saving the planet and find my observation not to your liking, but there's not much I can about that...

Consider the following... Everything that has mass in the Universe is unique in that it occupies it's own unique space and is affected by differing fo...

Religion is pro-family and pro-community, which is why it has thrived so long in human society. Even anti-family and anti-community statist societies ...

Technically, we only "need" water, food, shelter, and beer, so the fact that religion has sprung up in nearly every culture suggests that such practic...

The arrogance of man, thinking that he can be a threat to the planet. A few decades (or perhaps centuries) after we have departed, we (and everything ...

The thing is, Jack, it's really isn't. We just make it that way. An individual's belief is an intensely personal thing. How can anybody possibly under...

My intention is to discuss ideas. People need to help themselves.

The most effective communicators are those that keep their message as simple as is possible.

The more complex thinking becomes, the further from the truth you get. Look at every institution in the West for examples galore. Do you believe the L...

Absolute Simplicity is Absolute Truth. Begin the process of intellectualization, and you move further and further from the truth.

If it is a discussion of religion, then it is intellecualization, as is any discussion on any subject-matter. And please don't get me wrong here, Jack...

Religion being the intellectualization of spirituality (the definition I go with), is a collective mechanism in place to point individuals in the corr...

People can do whatever they like. There are some who are incredible generous, but what's this have to do with my assertion that the main thing going o...

I am sort with George Carlin on this one whereas I don't really believe that man can cause much harm to the planet. Where the climate is no doubt chan...

Well, if Einstein was correct and E=MCxC, there should be no lack of energy available. I would think that technology should solve the energy issue rea...

Of course they can give it away. But it's not free. This entire idea of "free" is one of the greatest ruses of all-time. There is no such thing as "fr...

If something has value, then somebody is paying for it. Even the banking community cannot create something for nothing as they work their magic throug...

Nothing wrong with sitting in a room by yourself, but then again, there's nothing wrong with doing anything else as long as your are respectful of oth...

No doubt about it.

Nothing for something no more exists than does something for nothing. Somebody is paying the freight. Even if somebody gives you something for "free,"...

Just the same (and no matter what's going on), you have to play the cards you're dealt, right? Forward movement is the way.

You must have a young spirit! :)

Unfortunately, it's been going on for a long, long time, perhaps the first wizards being the BOE in 1696 as the first central bank. Another wonderful ...

There is always something to be happy or sad about. Very nice homes throughout the West are full of older folks that (even if they have checked-off al...

Whereas I do believe people need to come to grips with their past, it seems like the most important part of growing-up is when you finally acknowledge...

And isn't one of the great benefits of mindfulness? Being present (cultivating awareness) creates a true past.

Then how can anybody be content (or happy) in such an imperfect world?

Perhaps he referring to the little voice in our minds that play events over and over and over...

Much of this is a matter of definition, but contentment can exist without happiness. Take the person who can have a number of serious health issues bu...

People who have been through really difficult periods in their lives are often able to handle other issues in their lives (going forward) with a much ...

With the ascension of science to the top of Mt. Olympus over the past couple of centuries, it makes perfect sense that dependency on the manipulation ...

It seems to be how the Universe works.

It would be negligent to assume that life is not a cornucopia of things good and bad happening each moment so no one event exists in a vacuum. On the ...