Category Archives: The Church of What’s Happening Now

The right way to do thingsis death to the spiritacross time and place.Dharma is doing what is expected of usexactly as it has always been donethrough the ages.Insisting on “exactly” evolvedinto the caste system of modern India,and the goosestepping “Heil Hitler”of Nazi Germany.Those were the ways to do itthat stifled life wherever they took root.SittingContinue reading “July 26, 2024 – A”

David Brooks suggests that we ask,”How did you come to believe the way you do?”when accosted by someone pushing theirview upon usor attacking us for our views.It is a beautiful shift in direction.When we tell our stories–even partially,with only a sentence or two–everything changes.Story is magical in this way.We are no longer in attack/defense mode.WeContinue reading “July 25, 2024 – C”

Paul Watzlawick wrote a book entitled”The Situation Is Hopeless, But Not Serious.”It is a title for our times.Rumi said, “If you are not here with us in good faith,you are doing terrible damage.”Good faith cannot be compelledto come to the table.Trump and everyone in Trump’s sphereooze with bad faith.No one can do anything about that.ElectingContinue reading “July 25, 2024 – B”

We have no need of plansand agendas–a sense of what is necessaryis enough to steer us through circumstances and situations as they arise.It has been that waywith us as a speciessince time began.”If you meet an elephantcoming toward you on the path,GET OFF THE PATH!!!”This is not difficult.We make too much of it.Siting in theContinue reading “July 25, 2024 – A”

Liberty/freedom/liberation are over-rated.Balance and harmony are under-appreciated.What can we do with our choices?In light of what–toward what–do we live?What are we doing with our life?What guides our boat on its path through the sea?What do we have to work with?What are we here to do?What brings you joy?Assume with me that we are here toContinue reading “July 24, 2024 – B”

The old Taoists said”circumstances beget circumstances,”and it is our placeto respond to what’s what here, now,in ways appropriate to the occasion.That cannot be spelled out in advance.We cannot know beforehand what to dowhen and where.We respond to every here, now,here, now.To have any success with this process,we need a strong relationship with our intrinsic intuition,inContinue reading “July 24, 2024 – A”

“I don’t think that’s going anywhere,”could be said about everything.Along with it’s corollary,”Where do you think you’re going?”And,”What do you think you’re doing?”These are all statementsthat could be at the heart of Zen.Along with the following:”Those who say, don’t know.Those who know, don’t say.””The Tao that can be told/explained/saidis not the eternal Tao.”A Zen masterContinue reading “July 23, 2024 – A”

What do you think aboutas you are driving trainsthrough Canada?What do you think aboutwhen you are not?What do you think about?What we think about tells the tale.One thought tends to leadto another,particularly when we are thinking about our thinking.Being curious as to why we thinkthe way we thinkand not some other way instead–and thinking aboutContinue reading “July 22, 2024 – A”

Aligning ourselves with our original nature,innate virtues(The things we do best and enjoy doing most),and our intrinsic intuition,puts us at “the sweet spot”of our life,on the beam,at one with our destiny,and in accord with the Taoof life and being.You would think,that with all that going for it,more people would be faithfully engagedin centering themselveswith themselves,andContinue reading “July 21, 2024 – B”

If you choose to go the Non-Christian/Non-Buddhist route,you get to throw out all the theology,doctrines,dogma,dharma,sutras,rituals,catechismsand creeds,and focus exclusively on being the best Jesus and/or Buddhayou can be,simply by sitting in the right kind of emptiness,stillness and silence,waiting for the mud to settle and the water to clear,reflecting on,contemplating, considering, exploringyour original nature,your innate virtues(The thingsContinue reading “July 21, 2024 – A”

Tourist time starts around 10 AM.Sunrise on the peaks begins a bit earlier.It is a question of what matters most.Knowing what matters to usis a key piece of knowing,reflecting our original nature.We don’t know why the important thingsare important,we just live to serve them.Dogs, cats, horses and peoplematter a lot to a lot of people,andContinue reading “July 20, 2024 – A”

Zen is Taoism’s response to Buddhism.There is nothing Buddhist about it.”Don’t take suffering seriously, Bro!Just fold it into your lifeand live on!Live on!”The Buddha could have usedthe insights of Taoism.”Nothing is so badthat changing the way you look at itwon’t make better!””Why be undone about the way things are?Do what can be done about itandContinue reading “July 19, 2024 – B”