I found this helpful and thought provoking. I’ve strayed from agnostic praying to pray, hung up on the theological question, but I’d been benefiting from doing so, from talking aloud, understanding it was to myself. I greatly appreciate you putting all of this to words so well, they hit at just the right moment. We don’t need to resolve the theological question of to whom to pray, because ultimately self is listener and speaker. I am not a Zen practitioner, more of a nondualistic explorer at this point, but I appreciated the history, and learning more about it. Thank you 🙏
Definitely relate to this… after my own 50 years… the last 30 with the Vajrayana/Dozgchen… lots of butt in seat doing what one of my teachers said “Just keep going.”
Indeed. I find following the monks Walking for Peace thru middle USA so moving - quiet, simple compassion in action. Seeing so many people along the way respond to them. It gives me hope, I feel more connected to the USA. It also brought to mind the powerful first line in a Nick Cave song 'I don't believe in an interventionist God'. That too was life changing for me, as a Buddhist. Thanks for the reflections Chris.
Really good piece. More recently I’ve been praying to me. LOL. That’s only because I truly believe that we all are connected through Source. Even if I just need a tap in to re regulate, I’m ok with this concept of God now. I love the prayer hands because it feels innate regardless of whether I learned it’s from church. There’s something universal in that gesture.
After almost 50 years of doing it daily, I bow and pray to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Ancestors. The meaning is in the doing.
I found this helpful and thought provoking. I’ve strayed from agnostic praying to pray, hung up on the theological question, but I’d been benefiting from doing so, from talking aloud, understanding it was to myself. I greatly appreciate you putting all of this to words so well, they hit at just the right moment. We don’t need to resolve the theological question of to whom to pray, because ultimately self is listener and speaker. I am not a Zen practitioner, more of a nondualistic explorer at this point, but I appreciated the history, and learning more about it. Thank you 🙏
Beautiful Chris. Embracing what we don't know. Showing up anyway. So true, of this journey.
Definitely relate to this… after my own 50 years… the last 30 with the Vajrayana/Dozgchen… lots of butt in seat doing what one of my teachers said “Just keep going.”
Indeed. I find following the monks Walking for Peace thru middle USA so moving - quiet, simple compassion in action. Seeing so many people along the way respond to them. It gives me hope, I feel more connected to the USA. It also brought to mind the powerful first line in a Nick Cave song 'I don't believe in an interventionist God'. That too was life changing for me, as a Buddhist. Thanks for the reflections Chris.
This really resonated with me. Thank you.
Thanks for this
Really good piece. More recently I’ve been praying to me. LOL. That’s only because I truly believe that we all are connected through Source. Even if I just need a tap in to re regulate, I’m ok with this concept of God now. I love the prayer hands because it feels innate regardless of whether I learned it’s from church. There’s something universal in that gesture.