An Introduction

The first thing this blog is for is to give my readers a little freedom from the fear that some religious affiliations can cause. The second is to show how we cause much of our own suffering ourselves, especially in our obsessive minds and emotional disfunction. Third is to suggest practices and perspectives that have been greatly helpful to my peace and my outlook in a world that can sometimes seem cruel. 

When we fall it's very hard to get back up. And I mean really fall. For me, the church (Catholic and Protestant) made claims of all kinds about the joys of Jesus, but no matter how much I read the bible, or prayed, or went to catholic mass or other church services, I couldn't find any joy to count on. I relied on various substances (legal or illegal) to numb the fear and pain of my own existence. This is not the answer I was looking for.

What had actually happened was that I had let the harsh critique of fundamentalism into my heart. Nothing was ever enough and the bible was full of stories that confirmed that. The peace that I know now is like nothing I had expected (given my harsh understanding of "strict adherence" and retribution), nor is it strictly Buddhist or Hindu or whatever other way we try to confine It. Peace is readily available for the sincere seekers of all faiths. 

Some people might claim that these writings are pantheist. This is just the path I followed, and it works! There is something bigger going on here than our little salvation projects that we're told should be the central focus of our lives. To me, that is the beginning of the fundamentalist fear mongering that I'm talking about. Who is this god that is so intent on setting everyone on fire? I say it's an unfortunate turn of events in western thought that led us to separate from life and ourselves. We are essential parts of the whole, and one being with the whole. I practice Zen now, and I know the love of God now too. I'm telling you, love and life are universal. There is no separation, it is only realization that is lacking.

I intend for this blog to be informative as well as an exploration of what this hard knock of life really is. Please comment and share if any of these posts speak to you. I know I'm on to something, and I want to bring as many people with me as I can. Peace to anyone who desires peace.

Thank you for reading...