Tag Archives: Buddhism

The religion of love

Posted on September 11, 2017 by ends and beginnings blog

I am speaking to a group this week at my church. This group meets monthly to discuss faith-based books. The book I have chosen to discuss is a melding of many religions and traditions which is to say, a lot … Continue reading →

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Seeds of compassion

Posted on July 12, 2017 by ends and beginnings blog

“Encountering sufferings will definitely contribute to the elevation of your spiritual practice, provided you are able to transform the calamity and misfortune into the path.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama I am not a coffee drinker so in the morning … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday to H. H. the Dalai Lama

Posted on July 6, 2017 by ends and beginnings blog

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” – H. H. the Dalai Lama Fifteen years ago I read The Art … Continue reading →

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Life and death in the forest

Posted on May 1, 2017 by ends and beginnings blog

“The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.” –  The Buddha My wife and I try to hike in the Pisgah National Forest every Sunday, specifically in … Continue reading →

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Books, books and more books

Posted on January 25, 2017 by ends and beginnings blog

About ten years ago I became fascinated with religion. Now, I have always attended church as a matter of fact I have been a member of my current church for over thirty years and even served as an elder. But … Continue reading →

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Either shit or pie

Posted on January 24, 2017 by ends and beginnings blog

“I remember her saying that a fly is as likely to land on shit as on pie. So she thought everything could be divided into two categories. Either shit or pie.” – Carrie Fisher, Postcards from the Edge Human beings … Continue reading →

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I got the answer, I think

Posted on December 14, 2016 by ends and beginnings blog

A Denomination is defined as an organized Christian group. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has estimated that there were 34,000 denominations in 2000, and rose to an estimated 43,000 in 2012. In 1900 there were an … Continue reading →

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Playing the belief game

Posted on December 9, 2016 by ends and beginnings blog

“The essence of all religions is one. Only their approaches are different.” –  Mahatma Gandhi Where do you stand on God? On Jesus? On heaven? On hell? Do you have to “play the belief game” for your family, friends and co-workers to … Continue reading →

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How we are weaved together

Posted on November 30, 2016 by ends and beginnings blog

The Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) preaches the concept of interdependence. In personal terms, you and I remain and develop because of the existence of each other. Thay concludes that if we stay mindful … Continue reading →

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The book that wasn’t, a journey of rejection

Posted on November 28, 2016 by ends and beginnings blog

Back in 2011 I wrote a manuscript (I guess it’s not a book until it is published) which blended a Christian text with Buddhist and Zen concepts. I described it as “using the Book of Saint James as a writing prompt, … Continue reading →

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