jimwdollar

September 25-A, 2022

I have two books to recommend, that everyone should read at least three times over the course of their life, with five years or so between times. The first is by S.I. Hayakawa, “Language in Thought and Action.” Because nothing is more important in knowing what’s what and what to do about it than language–asContinue reading “September 25-A, 2022”

September 24-C, 2022

Jesus put an end to theology and all of its stepchildren, doctrine, dogma, dharma and hymnbooks– all of which are clandestine books of doctrine set to music– with his, “The spirit is like the wind that blows where it will.” The spirit, bound to theology, can’t move, locked in as it is by chains ofContinue reading “September 24-C, 2022”

September 24-B, 2022

Jesus wasn’t big on believing. He never said, “If you don’t believe what I’m saying, you are going to hell.” He said, “Blessed are those who hear what I’m saying and do it.” Jesus was all about doing. Not believing. Not thinking. Only seeing/hearing/doing. “Love your enemies.” “Love your neighbors.” “Love yourself.” “Live in lovingContinue reading “September 24-B, 2022”

September 24-A, 2022

When Jesus said, “Wisdom is known by her children,” he is saying, “Time will tell.” The way we read and respond to the situation as it arises will be validated or invalidated in time. And that will inform how we read and respond to similar situations in the future. We learn from experience only whenContinue reading “September 24-A, 2022”

September 23-B, 2022

I live in the service of reducing noise and complexity, seeing/hearing/understanding/knowing/ doing/being, and letting nature take its course, letting things fall out around that, waiting for the door to open and walking through to more of the same. The things that strike me as a good idea change over time. In light of changing abilitiesContinue reading “September 23-B, 2022”

September 23-A, 2022

We live to have our way and get what we want. We live seeking the advantage, the gain, the profit, asking “What’s in it for me?” and, “When is it my turn?” We have no interest in what is called for in each situation as it arises, or what needs to come forth from withinContinue reading “September 23-A, 2022”

September 22-B, 2022

Our work– what we pay the bills to do, not what we do to pay the bills– is simple: Finding our life and living it. All of our nighttime dreams are about finding our life and living it. The theme running through them all is: “LOOK! THIS is what you are doing!!! Is THIS theContinue reading “September 22-B, 2022”

September 22-A, 2022

We can live to get our way and we can live to do what needs to be done, and needs us to do it, with the gifts of our essential nature and innate virtues– even though that would interfere with getting our way. We can live with our good in mind, and we can liveContinue reading “September 22-A, 2022”

September 21-C, 2022

It is easy for me to see that slavery should never have happened, and that “manifest destiny” was a slogan carved out of capitalism as an excuse for taking the entire country from the indigenous people who were clearly the “destined” “owners” of the land, its waters and minerals and oil, etc. It is wrongContinue reading “September 21-C, 2022”

September 21-B, 2022

Jesus came saying things people did not want to hear, so they killed him. It is the way. “We can’t handle the truth.” Col. Nathan R. Jessup was right about that. Jesus’ words to those who follow him have nothing to do with the Eucharist, where he is seen as “dying for us.” No oneContinue reading “September 21-B, 2022”

September 21-A, 2022

Projections are to facts as dreams about drowning are to water. When we talk about things “out there,” its coming from “in here,” and it would be helpful– to us and to others– if we qualified that by saying, “To me,” after every evaluation/opinion of some person/place/thing “out there.” When we say something or someoneContinue reading “September 21-A, 2022”

September 20-C, 2022

The heart of Buddhism is “You have to know what I mean before you can understand what I am saying.” It is called “Buddha Mind,” by which Buddha communes with Buddha by way of the connection which is there before he speaks. Thus, Mahākāśyapa smiled when the Buddha held up a lotus flower, because hisContinue reading “September 20-C, 2022”