An adept asked his master, “I have finished my breakfast, what shall I do?” “Wash your bowl” was the reply. To eat in a Zen monastery is both sustenance and ritual. Like the tea ceremony’s elevation of the mundane to the sublime, it becomes the prayer rather than being prefaced by the prayer. Simple fare served under the rule of take what you’ll eat and eat what you take. And when your meal is finished, wash your bowl. First you pour a small amount of water onto your plate and carefully scrape the plate with the edge of your spoon; then you pour the water from the plate to your bowl and repeat the scraping. Finally, you drink the wash water. If all this seems like a waste of time it’s because you’re missing the point.
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Archive for February 1st, 2009Sundays with Uncle-God Momma: wash your bowlPosted on February 1, 2009 by Lex under Religion [ Comments: 7 ]
So yeah, we talk. I’ve even applied for a couple jobs up there over the years. Anyway, I asked Him who He was pulling for. He’s a big sports fan, obviously (“I created sports, remember?”), but tries to stay neutral. This year is a little different, though: “I’m pulling for the Steelers.” I was a little shocked, so I asked why. Full story »
Shashank Bengali, McClatchy News, Israel’s destruction of U.S.-style school shocks Gazans:
Why did they do it? No one to stop them. |
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I was talking to Jesus the other day and the subject of the Super Bowl came up. Oh, I know what some of you are thinking – 
Link of the Week (as opposed to the Weakest Link)