Blog Profile / The Big Old Oak Tree
| URL : | http://thebigoldoaktree.blogspot.com/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | Religion / Buddhism | |
| Posts on Regator: | 31 | |
| Posts / Week: | 0.2 | |
| Archived Since: | November 5, 2010 | |
Blog Post Archive
85 Questions from "The Nature of Existence"
My friend Rob recently told me about a film project called The Nature of Existence. A fellow went around the world asking eighty five "big questions" to various folks; religious leaders, folks on the religious fringe, philosophers, scientists, artists, regular folks. Show More Summary
What I Got Out of Zen Practice
Hello again, everyone! I'm sure you've all noticed the lack of blogular activities from your favorite, go-to website for Zen practice and spirituality. I've just not been feeling particularly creative in this part of my life. I'm still...Show More Summary
Our religion is what we do.
Native basketry, at the Heard Museum (Phoenix, AZ). Isn't it great? I'm reading another book by my favorite author Derrick Jensen. This one is called What We Leave Behind, and it's about, well, what we leave behind. As is usual for Mr. Show More Summary
Sidewalk Beer
My friend Koji and I were stopped at a red light this evening. A homeless-looking fellow was walking down the sidewalk. He had a big beard, and his clothes were torn and dirty. I thought he might have recently been at the psych hospital, where I work, but when I took a second looks I could tell he wasn't the guy I was thinking of. Show More Summary
Wearing the Robe
Shohei's kesa, from his blog, Robe! In the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, there is a particular veneration of the kesa, the Buddhist robe. As far as I know, all the different orders of Buddhist clergy wear some form of the kesa. Although...Show More Summary
I got a job!
I got a job! As you may know, I've been working on an as-needed basis at the psychiatric hospital, as a mental health technician, but I just got hired for full-time work. The schedule is exactly what I wanted, Monday through Friday, 7am to 3pm, leaving me nights and weekends (and a good chunk of the afternoons) to pursue other stuff. Show More Summary
Live a Little More
I went to a bit of a party last night. My friend Matt, who I know from the Austin Zen Center, is in several bands. One of them, The Black, is going on tour for two months or so, leaving today, so it was a bit of a send-off party. Matt lives in this really cool house that used to be a childcare center; it has a playground in the yard and everything. Show More Summary
Love Song
Some folks seem to take some pride in not liking Valentine's Day. I don't really get that. Sure, there's the crass commercialization of romance, but our culture seems to do that to everything, and one can set that aside. The idea is nice, perhaps even noble; folks giving tokens of affection to the folks they love. Show More Summary
The Onion's "Journey of Self-Discovery"
Edward Hopper, Sunday (1926) from The Onion: America's Finest News Source Journey Of Self-Discovery Leads Man To Realization He Doesn't Care FEBRUARY 10, 2011 | ISSUE 47•06 FLAGSTAFF, AZ—Three months after setting off down a long spiritual path to find himself, 38-year-old Corey Larson arrived at the conclusion Tuesday that he does not care. Show More Summary
The Vision
Mark Rothko, 1903-1970 All the greats have a vision. The Buddha had a vision of society where human suffering was taken seriously, and he actually created an alternative, parallel society that is still going today. Jesus and the early church had the Kingdom of God. Show More Summary
My Favorite Japanese Haiku Poet
Santoka Teneda, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest who lived from 1882 to 1940 is my favorite Japanese haiku poet. Giovanni Bellini, St. Francis in the Desert, The Frick Collection There are two collections of Santoka's poetry in English, and both are excellent.Mountain Tasting: Haiku and journals of Santoka Taneda, trans. Show More Summary
Scruffy Scirocco Objects!
El Greco's Sts. Peter & Paul, at Google Art Project Yay! I got my first spiteful blog comment ever! I've been waiting for something like this. Up until now, the only "hate mail" I've received had to do with my I Don't Practice Mindfulness post. Show More Summary
Cheering for Egypt
The crowd in Tahrir Square, Cairo, on Friday, the Day of Departure This photo just about says it all. I've been following the news from Egypt pretty closely for the last week or so. There's been so many inspiring stories that I don't even know where to start. Show More Summary
The Mind Reacts
The Cathedral, by Frantisek Kupka, 1871-1957 One time I was walking down a street with my teacher in San Francisco. This fellow came up to us shouting and making like he was trying to pick a fight. He was acting in a really threatening manner. Show More Summary
Earth, Space, & Curiosity
Two students in England spent the equivalent of US$560 to construct a styrofoam box containing a camera and a GPS device attached to a weather balloon. In around 3 hours, the balloon rose to height of about 23 miles (the lower end of the stratosphere) until it popped, opening a parachute and delivering the box to a field about 100 miles away. Show More Summary
Ten Commandments in Schools
Do you have kids? Do you send your kids to public school? If so, be glad you don't live in Giles County, Virginia, because if you did, your kid would be going to a school where excerpts from the King James Version of the Bible are posted in the school's hallway. Show More Summary
Deep Ecology: a brief introduction
1,400 year-old oak tree, from stylefrizz.com
I grew up in a town called Phoenixville in Pennsylvania. My home was on the edge of the borough proper and Schuylkill Township. Until fairly recently, the township was rather rural; open fields divided by stands of trees. Show More Summary
Lou Hartman, 1915-2011
I lived with Lou Hartman at San Francisco Zen Center's City Center from August of 2006 to December of 2009. When I first moved in, Lou would come to the basement zendo most every day for zazen, and take his seat. He always sat in the northeast corner. Show More Summary
An American Buddhist Soldier in Afghanistan
1st Lt. Stephen J. Hunnewell, US Army Buddhist Soldier and two-time Bronze Star Medal recipient, 1st Lt. Stephen J. Hunnewell is currently serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. As a Civil Affairs Team Leader, Hunnewell is responsible...Show More Summary
Audio of a talk I gave at Austin Dharma Punx
Clifford Still, 1957, from the SFMOMA I gave a talk at the Austin Dharma Punx on December 19, 2010. If you're in Austin and you're looking for a friendly and informal forum for discussion of Buddhist practice, they meet on Sundays, at 11am, in the Austin Zen Center zendo.
It's hard to figure out a topic for a talk. Show More Summary