Paddy and Mike were sitting in McGuire’s having a pint and watching the comings and goings in the brothel across the street. As they sat there, Rev. Barnes, the local Baptist minister, wandered into the disreputable establishment. Paddy remarked, “Sure it’s a shame to see a man of the cloth goin’ bad.” A while later, Rabbi GoldbergRead more
The Ego
Faith And Ego
It is difficult to have faith and be in the world. Jesus and Buddha taught us not to be attached to possessions, but the ego loves things. Christ said to forgive, but the ego is afraid to be vulnerable. Reaching out to someone who has hurt you can be risky, and the ego hates rejection. It wants toRead more
Self Criticism
How long has it been since you tore yourself to pieces? An hour? A day? And while we’re at it, how many negative thoughts do you have each day? A hundred? More? We can be pretty rough on ourselves, and being human means that there will always be plenty of stuff to pick from. If your negative thoughtsRead more
Logic and Spirituality
In the middle of The Garden of Eden stood two trees: The Tree of Life and The Tree of The Knowledge of Right and Wrong. Mystics use these as symbols of the two fundamental aspects of humans: the logical and the spiritual. Each has great value and we are seriously limited when we lose one or the otherRead more
Seeking Truth
Seng-ts’an lived in the late sixth century, and was the third patriarch of Zen Buddhism in China. He wrote a famous poem blending Taoism and Buddhism in which he said: “Do not search for the truth; just let go of your opinions.” He also wrote: “The great way is not difficult for those who are unattached to theirRead more