Politics & Society

Why Not Bomb Libya?

By |

How could any right minded person be against the use of force to stop the Libyan government’s repression of dissent? Incredibly brave demonstrators take to the streets, demanding freedom, democracy, and a more equitable share of Libya’s enormous oil/natural gas wealth – and they are met savage brutality. Foreign mercenaries from far away, using the power of tanks and airplanes, assault a poorly armed but politically aroused citizenry. For God’s sake, let’s give them hand. Enforce the no-fly zone, bomb their anti-aircraft installations, make sure the good guys at least have a fighting chance.

Earth-based Religions

Spring…and Death: More Questions than Answers

By |

After a long, cold, and icy winter, it’s spring here in Boston. The light has changed, making the sky somehow lighter and further away; if you find a spot out of the wind you might actually feel some real warmth from the sun; and in my neighbor’s miniscule front garden a band of hardy crocuses (croci?) have adorned themselves with purple buds. The birds didn’t have to be told twice, and they are singing, tweeting, cawing, and flying around with new home building and speed dating on their minds. Spring is change, new life, excitement. Taking off the heavy leather, the bulky down, searching the ads for some new running shoes.

Politics & Society

NPR, Tea parties, and getting real: Appreciating the Good and Finding the Truth

By |

Dear reader – as you look this over keep in mind that politically I’m so far to the left I fall off the planet every once in a while. Socialist, feminist, rabid environmentalist – all that sort of thing. But in thinking about the recent flap at NPR, I’m really hoping we can do better than the usual knee-jerks on all sides. In case you missed it, some right-wing activists posing as potential donors got NPR’s leading fundraiser into a conversation about the Tea Party movement. With a hidden camera rolling along, the fundraiser said all sort of nasty things about them: gun carrying racists, xenophobes, and so forth.

Buddhism

Enlightenment from a Sea Gull

By |

What is spiritual fulfillment? What is reaching the heights of spiritual development? Or, to use the classic term — what is enlightenment? Classical Buddhist sources describe it as a state of mind in which we no longer think: “I am this, this is mine, this is my self.” Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra defines it as the ability to control, and cease, the modifications of the mind.