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ourselves and the infinite

[AUDIO AND TEXT] In the New Testament, we have Jesus stating his relationship with God in several places. For instance: Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (Jn 14:10, NIV) And this, announcing the coming of the Holy Spirit: On…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

whither?

[AUDIO AND TEXT] I was reading an article in the summer issue of Tricycle magazine (the Buddhist journal, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 84-86). The article, by a man named Douglas Penick, is about the journey of old age, and it cites the poetry of Basho, the 17th century Japanese master. It’s a beautifully written…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

holy week 2023: maundy thursday

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Note: this is the first Holy Week retreat talk given by The Rev. Alice Cabotaje Roshi. Reading: John 13:12-17 (New International Version) 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

holy week 2023: good friday

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Note: this is the second Holy Week retreat talk given by The Rev. Alice Cabotaje Roshi. Reading: Philippians 2:5-8 (New International Version) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather,…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

holy week 2023: black saturday

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Note: this is the third Holy Week retreat talk given by The Rev. Alice Cabotaje Roshi. Good morning. Thank you for being here today; for continuing to practice and support one another in silence, in spirit, and with your presence. Over the past two days, I have spoken about surrender, about death…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

holy week 2023: easter sunday

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Note: this is the concluding Holy Week retreat talk given by The Rev. Alice Cabotaje Roshi. Reading:Awad Afifi, a 19th century Tunisian Sufi teacher, drew his wisdom from the desert. Once upon a time in a far and distant place, on a high mountain, a gentle rain began to fall. At first…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

it’s all made up

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Note: this is the first of two talks. The second is “No Fixed Point in Which We Can Rest.” Here’s an alleged quote from the actor Edward G. Robinson about the inner craft of acting. I think it also might apply to ourselves and our daily lives. He wrote, simply: Every one…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

no fixed point in which we can rest

[AUDIO AND TEXT] Note: this is the second of two talks. Please listen first to “It’s All Made Up”. Last week’s talk, “It’s All Made Up,” was I think a little unsettling to some of us, myself included, to tell you the truth. This week, I want to read some passages from a few spiritual…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

presence of mind to absence of mind

[AUDIO AND TEXT] I think we can all agree that we all must be able to maintain a certain presence of mind in order to conduct ourselves through our daily lives. We must be able to connect with the happenings of our days, in our personal circumstances and in the larger world, and in that…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

what defines us?

[AUDIO AND TEXT] We spend a lot of energy on the question of self; i.e., just who or what is this self I call me? Who, in fact, is the “I” who’s even asking these questions? Since that seems to be a fundamental question that all of us experience – from time to time, at…

by EmptyCloudWestZen

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