MIDWAY upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost. Ah me! How hard a thing it is to say What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, Which in the very thought renews the fear. So bitter is it, death is … Continue reading A Writer’s Dilemma
The New Year has unfolded in an especially tumultuous way so far, and the tides of wellness and illness in our country seem to be fluctuating wildly as the pandemic rages and the new American presidency gets underway, but underneath it all, in several important ways, there is a continuity of sorts that we … Continue reading Ten Years of Blogging
Even though the world seems to be under a cloud of serial struggles and daunting difficulties presently, there is still good cause to be … Continue reading Finding Our Way Forward
“Hope” is the thing with feathers— … Continue reading Hope Springs Eternal
It was quiet in the house the other day, and the stillness was a welcome respite from the noise in the world these days. I cannot remember a time when the noise of the world was of such a character in the same sense that I was so glad to be outside of it, even … Continue reading Our Spiritual Path
It isn't easy every year, … Continue reading Thanksgiving Isn’t Always Easy
Last Gasp of Summer Sitting out in the backyard on a November morning with brilliant sunshine and mild temperatures approaching 75 degrees F, sipping on my morning coffee, it seems almost surreal given the circumstances. Perhaps it is the last gasp of summer, or simply a consequence of a random twist or turn in … Continue reading A Cascade of Autumn Leaves
When we finally arrive in October, Our feelings are usually … Continue reading Hello October!
Each moment, as we nearer drew to each, A stern respect withheld us farther yet, … Continue reading Contradiction and Truth
“The Buddha taught that our true nature is emptiness- a lack of a permanent Self- and when this true nature is realized, the divine states of the Brahma-viharas - loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity- emerge.” “In the teachings of the great yoga masters, our true nature is Brahman, the universal soul, of which … Continue reading Our True Nature
John's Consciousness 