Eating Issues

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Buddhism, Christianity, contemplation, divine presence, food, meditation, religion, table hospitality

One of the joys of getting back to church last Sunday was in joining in with fellow parishioners in a discussion of Richard Rohr’s book, The Naked Now. It explores the concept of “present moment” work as a method of meditation or contemplation. Like many other works of this nature, its basic premise is that we experience the divine from within, and the great Christian mystics attain the same basic state as do the great Buddhist monks and yogis.

In this study, I am blessed to share my thoughts with a group of people who are highly educated and thoughtful people. They are readers, thinkers, and doers in the world. They are highly placed business people, college professors, theologians and biblical experts, and others of intellectual acuity and attainment. I learn a great deal, always.

This has not been my usual experience in other Christian faith traditions generally speaking. For reasons that are not necessary to this discussion, the Episcopal Church tends to attract the better educated and more career advanced of our populations. This is especially true in my church.

A statement was made by one participant that stuck with me, and provided some deeper thoughts within me. I thought I would share with you what that is, and ask for your thoughts. I’m not at all sure my analysis is accurate, and it is preliminary, but my first thoughts may lead to your second thoughts, and thus perhaps further sharpening by others. All in the name of learning and thinking, and being what we all are–inquisitive humans.

The statement referred to the fact that both Buddhist and Christian share this methodology of reaching the divine–call it contemplation or meditation. It is the attempt to remain focused on the present, without judging or naming. It is to proceed deeper into a  Oneness with the universe, and with the Divine Knowing, or God, or Higher Power, or whatever you wish to call it. We call it different things, but when described, it is clear we both are experiencing the same thing.

How ironic then that we differ to very much on another issue, that of table hospitality. It will be noted that the Jewish practice, indeed the Middle East tradition of table hospitality has a long and rich history, well independent of Christianity or Judaism for that matter. It was a survival technique developed in the desert environment that placed life about politics if you will. Any stranger or even enemy was graciously invited to eat and rest and was safe while within the environs of the camp.

Jesus took this practice to new levels, suggesting that even in a urban setting, such as Jerusalem or the small towns and villages that surrounded it, such practices should continue, and enlarge to include all the “others” we might identify. The ritually unclean, the sinner of whatever kind and so forth. Jews have continued the practice, and all Christians are urged to as well. We all conclude that the best meal is the one shared with others in friendly and warm conversation and laughter.

How different the practice of many Buddhists. Mindfulness trumps conviviality. Instead of sparkling conversation, there is often perfect silence, and by design. The monk would tell you that silence allows total focus on the food–its texture, its taste, its temperature, its aroma. Monks wish to experience food as clearly as possible, not diminished by mindless chatter.

It is well to remember that some Christian monasteries also practice silence during meals, but this is generally the result of an imposed order of silence that is normal for most all day, or perhaps even most all week. This is an attempt to keep focused not so much on the task before the monk or nun, but rather to retain focus in all doings on God. Constant prayer is the goal.

I can see the efficacy of both practices. Dieters are admonished to turn off  extraneous distracting influences such as TV and MP3 players. Distractions cause absent-minded eating. Yet, in the main, we pursue the family gathering as healthy to us emotionally and psychologically.

I began to wonder if there was any explanation for these so different practices and reasonings. I came up with one, but I am not sure how valuable are the insights, nor how strong the argument. You be the judge.

Christians are not by nature pantheists–people who believe that God permeates all things, and that all things are God. This concept leads to a dumbing down in a sense of God and his working in the world, and is rejected theologically as simply wrong. Yet Buddhists do tend to see the divine in all things. There is a reverence for life, for the beauty of stone and sand. There is a palpable response to every day things as sacred. All this without a defined concept of God as a defined creator.

Yet, in Buddhism, many Christians do see a sense of the sacred, of the divine, and that the Oneness with all things amounts in a sense to a wisdom presence that can be entered into and benefited from. Thus the intense time spent in meditation by believing Buddhists.

I think Christians, on the other hand, are taught to look primarily to each other to see the divine. Jesus taught that we would see him in the faces of those whom society rejected, the poor, the sinner, the tax collector, the diseased. Our hospitality looks to people to reveal the face of God, thus we find the food less interesting that the company we are in. The food enhances, rather than directs the meal.

Does this explain the difference? Hardly, but it offers an insight I believe. Or perhaps I am all wet. Anyway, it’s what I got to thinking about. As always that is a dangerous thing. Who knows what craziness I’ll come up with if I’m allowed to continue thinking. I guess that’s why fundamentalists turn away in droves when I open my mouth. Thinking is dangerous!

Oh No They Din’t!

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Brit Hume, Buddhism, Christianity, Dick Cheney, Faux News, Hawaii, health care reform, journalism, Media, Neo-cons, Obama Administration, Rush Limbaugh, terrorism

It’s really hard to keep a straight face when Faux News claims to be “fair and balanced.” We all know that. But what follows is somewhat unprecedented in journalistic history.

It seems our dear Brit Hume, who always talks down to us from his pompous Mount Arrogance, has managed to trash one faith tradition, all the while shilling for another, all in the name of “fair and balanced” reporting.

Mr. Hume, commenting on Tiger Woods, suggested that Mr. Woods cannot reconstruct his personal life unless he leaves Buddhism (where salvation is simply not available to him) and move over to Christianity, where it is. Yes, you heard that right. Not only did he say this on Chris Wallace’s show, but he reiterated it on Uncle Billy O’Reilly’s propaganda machine later.

Leaving aside Brit’s rather lame understanding of Buddhism, we can but wonder what is going on in the minds of Faux News corporate leaders and Rupert himself in allowing such an outrage. Now we have a major “news” outlet proselytizing on national television like a common TV evangelist.

Andrew Sullivan, writing in The Atlantic, says:

Once you have abolished the distinction between secular and religious discourse, as they routinely insist on doing, their politics is their religion and their religion is their politics. And both are corrupted.

I guess there is nothing all that new here, since none on the left, and virtually none in the middle politically would grant that Faux News approaches any semblance of editorial or journalistic fairness in its reporting. It is decidedly for the neo-con agenda and panders to the religious right as all good neo-c0ns do to shore up their base of Nascar/trailer/soccer mom constituency.

Still, it is astonishing to think that this type of outrage is condoned or allowed. Presumably Rupert cares about the bottom line, and surely rational people will recoil in disgust at such a blatant display of Christian flag waving. But then again, maybe not. They are the Faux News after all.

This just in. Dick, “the Dick” Cheney has added his two cents into the “underwear bomber” news.  In his usual attempt to rewrite history to avoid all his criminality, Dick does his thing in complaining that the Obama Administration just doesn’t get it when it comes to terror.  (Being a terrifying individual, himself, he of course does.)

After the incident, Cheney rushed off his take on things to his BFF Politico, which offers him all the space he wants to spew his alternate vision of history.

He said in part:

As I’ve watched the events of the last few days it is clear once again that President Obama is trying to pretend we are not at war. He seems to think if he has a low-key response to an attempt to blow up an airliner and kill hundreds of people, we won’t be at war. He seems to think if he gives terrorists the rights of Americans, lets them lawyer up and reads them their Miranda rights, we won’t be at war.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/31054.html#ixzz0bF45RdYc

It seems the (some now call him traitor Dick), former VP has forgotten a few things. We all know of course that Bushieboy, when faced with the “shoe bomber” failed to remark on the incident for a full 6 days after the event. More important, Dick himself signed off on the release of a number of Gitmo detainees who were returned to Saudi Arabia for “re-education.” Trouble is, they are now in Yemen leading the al Quaeda effort there.

One might conclude from that that he is blowing a ton of hot air in an attempt to divert attention away from his own actions. One might. Of course, those who are inclined to believe whatever the dark one says, are not the kind of people who R E A D in the first place, so his comments to Politico were probably not read by them. No doubt they got the gist of things from their daily dose of the ever irrelevant Faux News.

Nice to know that Dick doesn’t believe in actual civil rights for humans, only the one’s he selects as worthy of said freedoms. And of course, he thinks its a fine and glorious thing to water board this kid from Nigeria in an effort to wring out every last bit of knowledge he might possess. No doubt Dick has “24″ in the TIVO and can’t wait for the mayhem to begin so he can vicariously enjoy the torture scenes that are always present on it.

And last, but certainly not least, Rush returns with another of his famous witticisms.

Now, it’s not nice to speak ill of the dead, and Rush is certainly dead as far as his morals are concerned, but his body still is warm, and so I am glad the man didn’t die. But, my sympathy ends there.

It seems, in famous Rushie style, Mr. Poophead said that from his vantage point in Hawaii, the American health care system is one mighty fine operation and needs no fixin’ by that black dude in the WHITE house.

Indeed, he wafted quite eloquently, in saying this:

I don’t think there’s one thing wrong with the American health care system. I got no special treatment other than what anybody else that would have called 911 and had been brought in with the same kinds of symptoms.
Via USA Today

Indeed, Mr. Mudmouth do tell us more! Of course, the Oxycontin king might recall that given his wealth, he can BUY about as good a health care package as is available anywhere in the US. And what is worse, it seems that Hawaii has the closest thing to socialized medicine in these here US of A states.

Yes, you heard that right, Rushie was the recipient of socialized medicine, and is touting how god awful good it was. OOPS. Bet ya didn’t mean to do that did ya Limpbrain?

So, I’m here to tell ya, these three men, did say these things. Yessiree Bob. Where is the trash collector when you need it?

All Roads Lead to Here

Tags

bible, Buddhism, Catholicism, Deepak Chopra, Episcopalian, God, Hinduism, Jesus, Native American spirituality, New age, religion

I was answering a comment on an older post yesterday, when I thought of a statement I attribute to Deepak Chopra. I found the book, but could not find the statement. I’ll leave the attribution there, since I can’t think of anywhere else I found it in.  Get a copy of How to Know God: The Soul’s Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries, (2000) even if it’s not the right one. It’s a great book and will expand your thinking.

Anyway, that lead me to pull a notebook out which I hadn’t looked at for a long time. It was made during a period I call my “wandering time.” It recorded many prayers and poems and quotations as well as Chakra drawings, gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalen, and various positive statements about life, me, and so forth.

This wandering time was a time when I moved away from traditional Christianity and explored much more broadly into the spiritual realm. I looked at Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American practices, as well as what is typically called “New Age” but is probably more properly denoted as “New Thought.” That is a poor label as well, since some of that goes back to Plotinus in the 2nd century or so.

It is where I learned really about God’s expansive love and compassion. It is where I left behind the Christian model of retribution, sin, and blood atonement in the traditional sense. It is really when I left Catholicism I suppose. Chopra’s book was perhaps the beginning of that journey, which traveled though,as I say,many stages and writings, from “A Course in Miracles” to the Bhagavad Gita, to Thich Nhat Hanh, and dozens of others.

With each one, my concept of God grew, and with it my faith. Ultimately it led me back to Christianity, with the tools to,  I hope, see the bible in a better and more truthful light. I have been able to find those Christian writers whom I did not know, or know well enough, to understand their message of an expansive, loving, gifting God.

In some sense, I now realize that it was not the outward issues of gay rights, women’s ordination, contraception, and all of that that led to my separation with the Roman church, but rather, it was something a good deal more deep. It was fundamentally how I visioned God, Jesus and his mission. And I realized that my model does not fit the “official” dogma of the Roman Catholic church very well. 

I thank publicly writers like Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan for helping me to see the real issue. It is in their books that I have come to this realization. Not that they have upended my beliefs, but they have in a sense validated them in a resounding and emphatic way. And but for the Episcopal Church, at least in it’s manifestation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I might not have realized it. Here I was encouraged to think out loud what I thought inside, without fear. It still shocks me sometimes to think of it as we sit on Sunday, discussing the issues, all of us near middle age to elderly, calmly talking about this wondrous  Jesus and his mission of inclusion, justice, and love.

So I thought, over the next few weeks, a couple of times a week or so, I might share with you some of what I learned along the way. My hope is that something here or there, you may find interesting, or of use to you. Something may resonate with you, something may be ahhaaaaa!, or perhaps you may discover that you’re not the only one who thought that! If I anger anyone, it is not my intention. But I do believe that there is no wrong in asking the question, and pondering alternative ways of looking at things. God knows it is done with love and intent to grow in faith, and that I am sure is enough.

I had this poem in my “book” but have no author alas. If anyone knows who wrote it, please tell me, and I’ll attach the proper authorship. It has no title either as far as I know:

The man whispered, “God, speak to me.”
And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, “God, speak to me!”
And, the thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said,
“God let me see you!”
And a star shined brightly.
But, the man did not notice.

And the man shouted,
“God show me a miracle!”
And, a life was born.
But the man did not know.

So, the man cried in despair,
“Touch me God, and let me know
you are here!”
Whereupon God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away,and walked on.

 

Short Takes on the Day, 04/13/09

Tags

Buddhism, Episcopal Church, gay rights, Iowa, Levi Johnson, Mel Gibson, Obama, pirates, Sarah Palin, Somalia, spirituality

Now that Easter is officially over (not really, but Easter Day has come and passed), it behooves us to return to some serious news again. There is just so much to talk about.

The dangerous drama that has been taking place off the coast of Somalia is now over and the captain of the American trawler was recovered unharmed from Somalian pirates.

While the wingnuts of the right and their punditry sycophants were howling that our President was not doing a thing and was caving into terrorists, of course saner heads prevailed in our leadership.

First of all the perpetrators were not terrorists but common thugs. Secondly our President was fully in command. Thirdly we have to thank the excellence of the Navy Seals who were able to remove the threat and save the captain free from any harm.  It’s regrettable that lives were lost of course, but this was handled it would appear with the utmost professionalism by both the Navy and the Administration. Kudos to both, and let the wingnutteries return to grousing about the pizza party.

***

The sniping continues from Sarah Moosey Hunter Palin, and as usual, she keeps sticking that high heel into her big mouth. Levi, once the soon to be wonderful son-in-law, is now the dude who was but a mistake on her daughter’s part.

Ever since Levi appeared on Tyra Banks, the snowballs have been flying, mostly one way. Where Levi claimed he lived with the Palin’s for a few months, Mama Palin says, “over my dead body.”

What’s worse, she says Bristol is about the business of extolling the virtues of abstinence as the proper way of a all young women not yet married. Problem is, Bristol is already on record as saying that while a lovely idea in theory, it “doesn’t work.”

I guess Sarah the Enforcer has had a word or two with her daughter. Course, Bristol continues to make up her own mind on these things we are assured. Sure, sure, sure, as long as it doesn’t interfere with mom’s courting of the religious right that is.

***

The Episcopal Cafe reports that the Obama’s attended Easter Sunday services at St. John’s Episcopal church in DC. This is not to say that the Obama’s have chosen this as their church, and actually it might be a wonderful thing if the Obama’s chose no church, but attended many different ones over the next four years. It might send a much needed message that there is value in all faith traditions, even those (gasp) not Christian.

The entire family received communion. The Episcopal church welcomes all baptized to the table of God.

***

Just one of those weirdnesses you never expect. When we learned here in the Peyton household of the anti-Jewish tendencies of one Mel Gibson, we swore off his movies, much as we had OJ’s. Course Gibson’s transgressions were not in the same league as murder, but after his bloody and ultra-orthodox rendition of Christ’s crucifixion, it added up to be enough for us.

Right wing Roman Catholics have long touted Mr. Gibson for his very very orthodox views.

Well hold on to your hats, it seems that Mrs. Gibson has filed for divorce. This is a huge no-no for those of the Roman persuasion and we can but guess how Mr. Gibson is reacting.

We find that they have in fact been separated for more than two years, his drunken adventures being some part of the catalyst it seems. Also there are rumors of “adultery” floating around.

Now we take the position, that Mr. Gibson is no better nor worse than any human and subject to all the frailties of the species. Yet, when you toot your orthodoxy as loud as has the above mentioned, it often comes back to bite you in the arse.

***

I planned on getting away from religious stuff for a bit, and truthfully, this isn’t religious, but spiritual. If you don’t have time to read much here today, make this your one stop. I tend to believe in serendipity, and I find it active here. Yesterday, in our sermon, Barbara told us not to get bogged down in the issue of “did the resurrection really happen.” Rather, she advised, live the resurrection, practice it daily. That is the value of it, and the lesson. Every athlete or musician knows the value of practice–you get better and better at it.

Dean Sluyter is a Buddhist, chaplain, and teacher. His words are magical in their simplicity and sense.

Live the Resurrection, live God, and stop worrying about believing. If it’s real, if you experience it, that is enough. Alleluia!

***

The nuttery league, known as the National Organization for Marriage, tells us that marriage is under attack. The Contrarian has stood ready for several days now, shotgun cocked and ready should those crazy gays invade our meadow and try to attack ours. So far so good. A round of applause for the Rethugs who continue to tie their wagon to this dying star.

***

Just wanted you to know that during the last week, nothing has changed and the following people are still crazy:

Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Bobby Jindal, James Inhofe, Lou Dobs, Michele Matlin, Ann Coulter, Bill Kristol, Michael Steele, Rep. Steven King (R. IA), Karl Rove, George W. Bush, John Bolton, Sarah Palin.  I’m sure the list is longer, but that’s all that come to mind right now. Boy the GOP is full of nuts isn’t it? What’s the likelihood statistically speaking that this many airheads could inhabit such a tiny little party?

***

Well, I’m off to cook up some farm fresh eggs, some sausage and fresh hashbrowns for dinner. Hope you find an interesting link or two.