You are one of . . .
-
-
- my read shelf:
Category Archives: Spiritual
I Love Japan Redux
Japanese have kept alive some traditions which promote sense of community, and the shared responsibility of living in that community. They create opportunities to work together for the common good, get to know one another, and just enjoy other folks who happen to live in the same geographical setting. This is what America desperately needs to overcome the fear, divisiveness, isolation, fragmentation. Here’s a challenge to my fellow Americans: How do you think people would react if you went from house to house and said, “How about if we get together and clean up the neighborhood, plant some flowers, then have a nice barbecue?” Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Social Commentary, Spiritual
Tagged Benton shrine, community, flowers, Hyogo prefecture, Japan, Sasayama, Shinto, sports festival
5 Comments
Clouds of Pollen in the Spring
Nothing like some scientific knowledge to fill in the blanks, those blanks being the desolate stretches in our brains which result in a lack of understanding and appreciation for the magnificent workings of nature. Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Science, Social Commentary, Spiritual
Tagged altruism, cherry blossoms, compassion, creativity, Earth Day, excellence, family of man, flowers, ingenuity, Japan, pollen, spring, vision
Leave a comment
It’s a very special time of year!
May the new year finally bring peace to the world. May we discover and embrace the understanding needed to live together in genuine and lasting harmony. Continue reading
Posted in Altruism, Creativity, Music, Spiritual, Video Blog
Tagged atheism, Christianity, Christmas, Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Islam, Judaism, peace
Leave a comment
Just a little . . .
It’s easy to confuse the little questions with the big questions. Language itself is often imprecise and misleading. Yet at other times it offers the appearance of an exactitude which is unwarranted, or at least inapplicable. Can we see the difference when we need to? Have we become so smart that we are outsmarting ourselves? Have we become victims of a conflation of logic and hubris? Continue reading
Posted in Nihilism, Philosophy, Political Analysis, Satire, Social Commentary, Spiritual, War and Peace
Tagged freedom, good vs evil, government, language, morality, nuclear war, philosophy, religion
Leave a comment
Update: Stairway To Heaven
Why do we seek high places? We generally look up when we pray. We don’t send our prayers into the dirt, we launch them out and upwards to float into the ether of spiritual space. We certainly don’t ever aspire to the lower moral ground. We don’t say, ‘I’m at the bottom of the world.’ We don’t declare, ‘I had a valley experience.’ When we smoke a joint, we don’t get low. I guess we just assume that somewhere “up there” is some comfort. Maybe some answers. And if we don’t get the answers we need, at least we have a nice view or easy exhilaration. Continue reading
Posted in Deconstruction, Philosophy, Spiritual
Tagged bicycles, Brer Rabbit, hiking, Japan, laughing place, mood elevators, stairway to heaven, zen
Leave a comment
Still Crazy After All These Years
My wife, Masumi, has yoga and ballet. Even in the cold, twice a week I stumble up and down a big mound of dirt. Works for me. Is it so unreasonable to think that every single person in the world deserves this? Just a simple, basic shot at happiness, free from hunger, fear, war, oppression. Continue reading
Posted in Adventure, Philosophy, Spiritual
Tagged ballet, chillblains, ice, Japan, karma, Paul Simon, Sasayama, slush, snow, sounds of silence, yoga
1 Comment
Happy New Year!
My heartfelt holiday song, performed by my lovely wife Masumi and I. Continue reading
Posted in Music, Philosophy, Social Commentary, Spiritual, War and Peace
Tagged atheism, Christianity, Happy New Year, hope, humanism, Islam, Judaism, peace
Leave a comment
Imagine
John Lennon’s song is a landmark achievement. But we need to imagine what is ennobling of the human spirit, morally sound, spiritually uplifting, socially constructive, liberating and fair, at the same time sticking to what’s achievable and truly consistent with the limitations of our species. Continue reading
Posted in Deconstruction, Political Analysis, Social Commentary, Spiritual, War and Peace
Tagged anarchism, Heaven, Hell, human nature, Imagine, John Lennon, nationalism, religion, tribalism, utopia
1 Comment
Beauty . . . is everywhere!
“There is beauty everywhere.” I am learning to look for it. Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy, Social Commentary, Spiritual, Travel
Tagged beauty, Geirangerfjord, hiking, HIV/AIDS, Norway, Sasayama Japan, Scandinavia, travel, Uganda
Leave a comment
Benten Shrine Ceremony
This past weekend was our annual Benten Shrine ceremony. The whole celebration took about an hour. Lots of smiles, good will, warm feelings. Life in Japan is still full of wonder for me. What a fascinating country! Continue reading →