I read and study a wide variety of literature on spirituality. While I am a Christian, my spiritual practice also draws on elements of Buddhism. It’s often been the case that Buddhist practice has helped me gain a better understanding of Christianity. Many people have drawn on both Christianity and… Read More »A Buddhist Christian? A Contradiction?
How do you conceive or understand prayer? Many of us understand prayer in terms of words: we ask for things. Whether the prayer is to God or the Universe, we make requests for something we believe to be good or to avoid what we believe to be bad. This is… Read More »Moving Deeper into Prayer
In many parts of the world, including the United States, there is a growing desire to eat food grown from seeds that were not genetically modified, i.e., non-GMO foods. Much of this food is organic. Monsanto, as well as other companies, make seeds that are genetically modified to resist the… Read More »Tending One’s Own Vineyard
The conversation was very thoughtful. She chose her words with great care. As I listened to her responses to my questions, I found myself going deeper into her life experience. Rebecca (not her real name) is a participant in a research study I’m conducting on spirituality and its relationship to… Read More »Spiritual Practice and the Fear of Death
Meditation is a spiritual practice that I was informally introduced to in my youth. A few of my teachers in Catholic school encouraged me to practice “quiet prayer” as they called it. Later, in college, I read some books about meditation and tried to figure it out on my own.… Read More »Things That Would Have Been Helpful To Know When I Began a Meditation Practice
I saw it all play out in front of me. The narrow parking lot was one-way, wrapping around the building in the shape of a “U.” Both the entrance and exit linked to a busy city street with a stream of cars moving bumper to bumper in both directions. Pedestrians… Read More »Anger: An Instant Blaze
“Where do you find the time?” That’s a really good question. Many of us find that our days are so very busy. There’s everything involved with maintaining a home, work responsibilities, community involvements, commitments to family and friends….and well, sleep needs to fit in there, too. It’s a very hectic… Read More »Where Do You Find the Time?
A Time for Quiet (An excerpt from my book, STUMBLING INTO LIFE’S LESSONS: REFLECTIONS ON THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, available at http://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Into-Lifes-Lessons-Reflections/dp/1450248845/) This morning I was walking in the park. A walk is part of my morning routine. After having the required amount of coffee to actually wake-up, I spend about… Read More »A Time for Quiet