Charity vs Compassion
When Western people hear about Buddhist ideas of compassion, we tend to unconsciously jump to the conclusion that Buddhist compassion is simply another term for Christian charity. But there is a difference. Charity comes from knowing. Compassion comes from unknowing. I’d like to stress something at the outset that most readers don’t need to be […]
Have Yourself a Compassionate Christmas
Merry Christmas, everybody! At this time of year I always enjoy seeing prominent Buddhists congratulate themselves on how kind, warm, and generous they have been. I’m on a bunch of mailing lists and stuff, so at year’s end I always get plenty of self-congratulatory missives from “woke” and progressive Buddhist leaders laying out all the worthy, […]
Mindfulness Meditation is Buddhist Meditation
Recently, Lion’s Roar published an article entitled, Conservative Christian Group Launches Campaign Against “Buddhist Meditation” in Public Schools. They promoted the article with a Tweet that read, “One commentator called the mindfulness programs (which are nonreligious, scientifically-validated stress relief practices) ‘aggressive Buddhist teaching’.” According to Lion’s Roar, “The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), […]
Pragmatism and Idealism
There are a couple of people out there in Internetland who are worried that I am cultivating a right wing following. If that’s what’s happening, it’s certainly not my intention. I don’t consider myself “right wing” at all. I don’t have any friends in real life who are right wingers. I have no interest in […]
Thanksgiving
I spent Thanksgiving this year once again with the Leon family, the family of my girlfriend Adriana. I’m thankful to them for looking past the racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic differences between us and accepting me as a part of their extended family of humans. I’m grateful for the many others in my life who […]
