Category Archives: speak and listen with love

The Return

It’s funny: I’ve had this blog title floating around in my head for months now. I thought the title was going to be referring to my return to Meeting for Worship after my hip surgery. It’s not, though: it’s about … Continue reading

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Filed under bible, christianity, christians, different faiths, discernment, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, leadings, light, ministry, practice, speak and listen with love, that of God, the bible

Integrity and Right Speech

The slogan I pulled for today is: “I take up the way of speaking truthfully.” which was one of my Precept vows. As a Quaker, we have a Testimony of Integrity that has its roots in Jesus’s command to “let your yea … Continue reading

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Filed under belief, buddhism, catholicism, discernment, faith, family, integrity, practice, slogans, speak and listen with love

Parable (based on a dream)

Each spring, there would be war between the village shepherds and the wolf-men. Each spring, the village shepherds would watch in fury as the wolf-men would steal their sheep. Each spring, many would die: villagers and wolf-men alike. One spring, … Continue reading

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Emptiness and Compassion

The Tibetan Buddhist practice of tonglen is perhaps one of my favorite Buddhist practices, and one of the first Buddhist practices I incorporated into my daily life. This practice is an act of breathing in someone else’s pain or suffering … Continue reading

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Filed under buddhism, compassion, daily life, emptiness, emptying, environment, humanity, love, meditation, pain, physical pain, speak and listen with love

A Gathered Popcorn Meeting

Shortly after I became a regular attender at my Monthly Meeting, I heard infamous tales about Popcorn Meetings for Worship. I remember in particular hearing about a terrible Meeting for Worship my Friends had attended once in D.C., where an … Continue reading

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My Introduction as a Buddhist Quaker

It’s been a long time since my last post. The last couple of months have been emotionally draining for me, leaving me with little energy to do anything but the necessary. And I haven’t felt that zinging prod from God … Continue reading

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Filed under buddhism, compassion, faith, family, gratitude, jamie, leadings, love, quakerism, speak and listen with love

Bayard Rustin

I’d like to share with you a perspective-changing experience I had a few weeks ago. This experience was so deep and profound that I doubt my ability to share it fully and in an understandable, linear fashion. The catalyst for … Continue reading

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Filed under bayard rustin, books, classism, inspirations, oppression, quakerism, racism, speak and listen with love

Gifts from Unexpected People

I’ve been a bit depressed this week about my JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). I saw my rheumatologist on Wednesday, and he confirmed what I’ve been suspecting: that my jaw joints are swollen. This means that I have to wear anti-inflammatory … Continue reading

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Filed under buddhism, daily life, family, gratitude, health, integrity, mindfulness, physical pain, speak and listen with love

Responsibility

At last Meeting for Worship, the state of the economy was mentioned several times, always followed by comments like “their greed”, “they put us into this mess”, “they allowed their greed to overwhelm them”, “they”, “they”, “they”. By the end … Continue reading

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Filed under compassion, daily life, faith, inspirations, meeting for worship, ministry, politics, quakerism, slogans, speak and listen with love

Stir Up Love: A Slogan Post

Today’s slogan is: Stir up love instead of stir up trouble. (Liz Opp) This has me feeling distinctly uncomfortable. My instinct upon seeing this one was to remove it from my slogans deck. But what would be the point of … Continue reading

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Filed under quakerism, slogans, speak and listen with love