Category Spirituality
Marriage Equality
In light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court “marriage equality” ruling, I have spent a little time thinking on the subject of marriage for the first time in a couple of years. As odd as it may sound, having been married to my wife since 2003 I don’t really think about marriage all that often […]
Kalyāṇa-mittatā: Spiritual Friendship
The subject of admirable friendship, particularly in the realm of one’s spirituality, might sound obvious at first. Even so, I think it is worthy of further thought. It is said that one of the Buddha’s closest disciples, Ananda, once stated that admirable friendship, companionship, and camaraderie are half of the holy life. The Buddha, by way […]
Poverty: Defy the Stigma
One of my facebook friends — actually, I dare say, my favorite teacher from my days in public school — posted the following quote this evening: The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities […]
Revisiting Weight: April
It may not be entirely obvious, but any hopes I’ve had of substantial weight loss have stalled since February. In fact, until today, I haven’t tracked my calories or weight in 67 days. I am pleased to be able to report, however, that my weight has remained essentially stable in that time. My spreadsheet reports […]
Time and Place
Today I’ve felt a little like I was born in the wrong time and place… I know that sounds a little dramatic. I understand that I have become what I am, where I am, because of my own kamma, because of what I have done before, and that (quite cyclically) my being here and now […]
December Weight Progress (or lack thereof)
Hello Friends, I promised there would be some sort of update on my weight tracking, so that’s what this will be today. Mind you, the Christmas and New Years holidays essentially blew any progress I could have made through December… surely there are some that could fault me for that, so before anyone says anything […]
Thinking about Weight
Hello friends, Many of my friends and family will recall that in 2011 and into the very beginning of 2012 I shed between 70 and 80 pounds in a matter of about six months. I never really blogged about the weight loss in and of itself — it was a very difficult time for me […]
Uposatha: Seventh Precept
Hello friends, Today I am observing November’s Full Moon Uposatha day. I’ve mentioned previously [here and here, for instance] that the Uposatha observance involves certain precepts that are additional to the regular practice proscribed by the Buddha to laypeople, so you should read those for additional background information that I may not choose to go […]
Recent Thoughts on Gain; Loss
Hello friends, I’ve been thinking a bit about gain and loss, or more specifically the fear of loosing what one has gained. I’m certain the Buddha spoke of this fear more than once, but my memory recalls most clearly a the instance when it was mentioned in the Lokavipatti Sutta, the sutta on the eight worldly conditions. These […]
Sad Things
Good morning Friends, For many, particularly Americans, today brings with it a reminder of what happens when hatefulness arises. The attacks on September 11, 2001 will be remembered by many folks in my generation, and will hopefully be a source of inspiration rather than fear for most. It should be inspiring to us because of […]
Hickersonia 