Author Archives: jimwdollar

01 I have only one favorite Zen story (Zen is what happened when Buddhism met Taoism). and I tell it frequently, so if you have been with me a while, bear with me here… A Zen master and his disciple were walking over a bridge when the disciple asked, “What is Zen?” Whereupon the masterContinue reading “August 17, 2021”

01 We divert ourselves from the truth of our life by adding complexity and noise in the form of diversions, distractions, entertainment, busy-ness, and immersion in the 10,000 things. Interesting complexity is still a diversion. Beautiful noise remains a distraction. Interfering with our real business of experiencing our experience, engaging the silence, exploring the driftContinue reading “August 16, 2021”

01 The phrase, “a meeting of the minds” suggests the possibility of a communion of comprehension, realization, recognition, understanding, oneness, wholeness, confirmation, union, goodwill… Which hinges on trust, openness and willingness to receive well the other– with no agenda for the other– but with a common agenda of mutual benevolence, respect, kindness, compassion and generosity.Continue reading “August 15, 2021”

01 Carl Jung was the Shaman/Hustler/Hokum-master of his age. He created an entire psyche-scam, an artifice composed of little more than smoke and mirrors to distract the attention of those seeking his help away from the simple secret source of their escape from their so-called “neurosis” back to “the face that was theirs before theyContinue reading “August 14, 2021”

01 The work, the task, the hero’s journey, in every age for everyone is the same across time and space. It comes down to this: Being true to ourselves– exhibiting, expressing, serving our original nature, with the gifts/daemon/virtues/ specialties/knacks/preferences/ genius/etc. that come with us from the womb– within the circumstances of the times and placeContinue reading “August 13, 2021”

01 When we are not instigating, not contriving, not exploiting, not manipulating, not setting things up, not arranging for something to happen, not striving, not pushing, not forcing, not straining, not stressing out, but are simply being present in the moment and allowing things to just happen, everything happens as it should. Try it sometimes.Continue reading “August 12, 2021”

01 Our original nature is the super hero we have been hoping for to deliver us. We come forth from the womb with everything we need to find what we need to do what needs to be done in each situation as it arises throughout our life. Adam and Eve were Jesus of Nazareth andContinue reading “August 11, 2021”

01 Religion exists by virtue of extortion and bribery. They both have temporal and eternal aspects. Extortion’s temporal expressions take the form of shunning/banning/exclusion and excommunication. And its eternal expression is hell with its torture and anguish. Bribery’s temporal form is Baptism and Communion and their assurances of the blessings of God’s grace and forgiveness,Continue reading “August 10, 2021”

01 We keep looking for something to make it easy to grow up, while avoiding the matter until we find what we are looking for. All it takes is standing up and doing what needs to be done. Time after time. Without emotional response. We spill the milk. We clean the milk up. Period. NoContinue reading “August 09, 2021”

01 Psyche-Tao-Mind-God (And where do those lines lie?) don’t seem to have any idea of what they are doing. The old Shaman and Taoists, who got it started 5,000 years or so BCE had no idea of a point. Their basic thrust was, “Don’t try to make the world better, just sick to the WayContinue reading “August 07, 2021”

01 There is what we do to pay the bills, and there is what we pay the bills to do. Which is the most important? Which is the easiest? Everybody thinks money is the most important thing. Few people have a clear understanding of what money is for. Of what bills are the right bills,Continue reading “August 06, 2021”