As I work on a new book The Engaged Heart, I went back over 500 weblogs I have posted in the last twelve years. Seems I have been wanted to redesign American Buddhism for some time.
7/23/2003 A Buddhist Dream
Monks needed something to do. Or I want
to go so far as to say that there are men and women whose hearts are spilling
over with passion and have no place to spend it. There are men and women who have a burning
desire to live with intention -- to know no meaningless breath -- to
be fully engaged, awake, filled with purpose and part of a whole.
This level of passion never seeks rest from the spirit. The body dances and the mind spins in
deference to the spirit, as the spirit is ruler, supreme choreographer, beloved
whisperer. The passionate heart always
chooses to listen. It is not that they
have no choice. They have every choice
and they choose spirit. It runs deeper
than desire. It is not content with
occasional service. It cannot live in patchwork
fashion; serving one hour a day, one day a week or one step at a time. It requires fulltime dedication or fulltime
mourning. It is a matter of depth that
longs to be filled, longs to be spent.
This passion must be of service.
This passion wants to be integrated into society -- meeting needs --
developing new ways to address new problems.
This passion is a lasting, reliable, sobering intoxicant.
I was dreaming. I am dreaming. It is a dream of Buddhist orders of American
men and women who lead passionate lives of genuine integrated service. Warriors of light Teachers of stillness. Leaders of joyous clarity ñ building
spiritual communities that are fully and fearlessly integrated into American
life -- uplifting us all.
8/15/2003 Heart of
Astrology
The 20th Century created a flood of information. To process and organize all of it, everything
was reduced to smaller, more understandable components. People were categorized. Cells were classified. DNA was identified. It lead to great encyclopedic knowledge and
terrible exploitation of atoms. A person
was divvied up by specializing doctors proclaiming their turf; leaving us with
a nightmare of trying to piece ourselves back together.
The 21st Century is the time to unite.
It is time to see the forest, the overall effect, the whole of humanity,
the integration of body, mind, soul and spirit.
It is time to stand hand in hand; dissolving boundaries and drawing
others into larger and larger circles of inclusion and integration. It is time to focus on what unites us: every
study, every discipline, every phylum, every being, every molecule. It is time to embrace and hold dear every
dissected isolated granule of life. It
is time to recognize that the division of the last century, that lonely
disparity, was merely an illusion and in reality everything and everyone is a
unified whole joined together in infinite motion. Illuminated with prayer, meditation and understanding, the very things which
separate will be the things which bring us together.
8/28/2003 American Buddhism
On my 55th birthday ~
First, I believe that my definition requires no agreement. Nor does yours. Second, Buddhism occurs from within a
culture. It cannot be imported or
exported. Historically, the imported
forms always fade. Each culture creates
its own form. It unfolds as their
culture ages. India, China, Japan,
Thailand and others slowly, elegantly unfolded their own Buddhism. Sects are not shards from a main teaching,
but a genuine and relevant customization.
Third, Buddhism involves the conscious construction (call it
deconstruction or reconstruction) of the internal landscape. The mind is watched, organized, disciplined,
controlled, emptied, filled and brightly lighted.
Finally, I believe that American Buddhism will not arrive via an ocean. No jet or ship or text or teaching will
ultimately establish American Buddhism.
It will unfold in the minds of Americans who integrate their practice
within the context of their culture. It
will be appropriate, natural, useful, unique, exquisite and it will be truly
American. It is percolating tonight in
the practice of thousands of Americans.
I hope I live long enough to see it named.
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