Rusty Ring

Some months ago I had a refreshing conversation on Zen ethics with a fellow hermit on Mastodon. We're equally sceptical of quietis...

We in Christian-majority countries are whelmed this time of year in the Nativity. That is, the legend of Christ's birth, with atten...

Something I much appreciate about Zen is its clear-sightedness in the matter of human behaviour. Where other religions talk about sin –...

In the early days of my monastic practice, a Franciscan friend shared a bit of his acquired wisdom with me: "You should only eve...

"When a shepherd goes to kill a wolf, and takes his dog to see the sport, he should take care to avoid mistakes. The dog has c...

If you don't know John Gorka, you should know John Gorka. Few artists sing the human heart like John. A number of his songs s...

Some years ago I heard a story from the Bhagavad-Gita, in which a great warrior is called to battle, only to find himself facing his m...

Last week a sangha sister drew my attention to a dramatic event in the Zenosphere: Adam Tebbe, founder of blog hub/online magazine S...

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got came from my dad. I was in high school, and on the horns of some dilemma. For some reason,...

The world does not need another activist. The world does not need another defender. The world does not need another patriot. The w...