Awake in This Life

Integral Theory Conference – 2010

Michael McAlister — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:10:22 +0000

Enjoying a pre-conference conference on the Three Faces of Spirit, being led by Diane “Musho” Hamilton and Dr. Marc Gafni. While the subject matter is interesting and its being skillfully delivered, I’m finding it an interesting practice to take Gafni seriously when there is so much “stuff” surrounding him. Anyway you cut it, he’s controversial. Some [...]

Buddha Bad Boy Goes Berserk

Michael McAlister — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:33:45 +0000

Even if these people did “scuttle” his meditation, imprisoning and beating visitors is not the most Buddhist of behaviors. Maybe he’s rebranding as Nepal’s “Buddha Bad Boy.” PATHLAIYA: Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 20, popularly known as Buddha boy, thrashed 17 locals after holding them for nearly 24 hours in Bara district on Friday. The injured locals [...]

Nunchuk Pingpong

Michael McAlister — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:43:36 +0000

I can’t quite do this as well as Bruce Lee did, back in the day. Give me a few more decades… and some nunchucks. Hat tip: elephant journal

Shirley Sherrod Almost Got Jonesed

Michael McAlister — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:06:39 +0000

Interesting op-ed from Van Jones in yesterday’s NYT. As with many, I was bummed by the knee-jerk responses so many had to the Shirley Sherrod situation. Jones offers some interesting insights relating her situation to his own. The worst of the partisans will get their comeuppance and become cautionary tales for others. Public leaders will [...]

The Moral Naturalists Observe Moral Animals

Michael McAlister — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:58:14 +0000

I’m always appreciative of empirical explorations of the things I yammer on about from the cushion. I also like that for any of Brooks’ perceived failings he’s intellectually curious; something refreshing among the punditocracy. We are, it appears, moral animals. But when we attach to our morality, we lose its offering. By the time humans came around, [...]

What’s Right and Wrong With a Mosque at Ground Zero?

Michael McAlister — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:50:44 +0000

The most recent flap over whether or not to put a mosque near NYC’s ground zero has struck a chord for many. Although its okay for a strip club to be located nearby, a mosque crosses the line. Robert Wright does a nice job in his essay on the topic for the NYT, and Shambala [...]

Free Will, or Free Won’t: Choice Is Still Interdependent

Michael McAlister — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:42:17 +0000

As much as I enjoy philosophical discourse, the whole “Free Will” things get’s old. This, in my view, is because the arguments as to whether or not we have it tend to miss the most fundamental aspect of the debate: free will is an intedependancy. In other words, there is no free will if there [...]

Buddhism in Ireland… Cheers.

Michael McAlister — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:24:29 +0000

The first copper-domed Tibetan Buddhist temple will be built on the coast of west Cork, according to IrishCentral.com Garranes, Ireland — It has been announced that the Dzogchan Beara retreat centre will build a copper-domed traditional Tibetan Buddhist temple on the centre’s land. The 14.5 meter tall temple will perch, by the retreat center, on [...]

Podcast Alert: ISmile247 – Uncovering the Deep Commitment | Infinite Smile

Michael McAlister — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:32:32 +0000

In this talk, Michael discusses the issue of commitment to the practice in the face of uncertainty. The fact is we’re all going to die, so how do we live? How do we best work to consciously co-mingle intention with practice in a way that serves all beings? via ISmile247 – Uncovering the Deep Commitment [...]

Was Jesus a Libertarian?

Michael McAlister — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:15:58 +0000

Interesting lines being drawn here: some progressive Christian leaders are arguing as battle lines are drawn for the 2010 mid-term elections. They say Beck and his Tea Party followers are, in a word, unbiblical. And then of course: Tea Party activists, who claim biblical grounds for a libertarian-minded Jesus. He didn’t like tax-based welfare programs, [...]

And Again: Chapter 8 – Commitment

Michael McAlister — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:17:51 +0000

The commitment to walking along the Path of Awakening challenges us in ways that most of us don’t expect. Truly dedicating ourselves to anything is hard work, but this is especially true for this process. Devotion to deep spiritual work is perhaps one of the most treacherous areas for any of us to explore since [...]

Podcast Alert: ISmile246 – Doubt: Wonder with an Attitude | Infinite Smile

Michael McAlister — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:28:52 +0000

In this talk, Michael discusses the difference between wonder and doubt and how each of these experiences affects practice. He argues that doubt, especially great doubt, can enhance our awareness as long as we are not caught by our doubt. via ISmile246 – Doubt: Wonder with an Attitude | Infinite Smile.

Resurrections Leading to Insurrections

Michael McAlister — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:48:19 +0000

I’m continually struck by Peter Rollins approach to Christianity. It’s sober, relevant and in keeping with the way that I try to approach Zen.

Jessica Simpson Gets Giggly During Meditation

Michael McAlister — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:17:49 +0000

To be fair, I’ve cracked up during meditation plenty of times. Still it’s funny to see Daisy Duke lose it in front of a Thai monk. VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

Telling Glenn Beck I’m a Buddhist for Social Justice… join me.

Michael McAlister — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:54:19 +0000

Sojourners has set up a way to “report” ourselves to the appropriate authorities if we espouse social justice in our interpretation of sacred scripture. Feel free to join me. Here’s my report: Dear Mr. Beck, I’m a Buddhist who believes in the compassionate call to social justice upon which so many historical wisdom traditions base [...]

Attachment Alert: Glenn Beck Says Catholics Should “Leave Their Church”

Michael McAlister — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:19:52 +0000

This is interesting. I’ve always thought that a commitment to social justice was at the core of Christian (as well as other) spiritual teaching. At least that’s what Thomas Aquinas seems to point out in his writing. Perhaps Beck has something on Aquinas. Money quote: On his radio program, Fox News’ Glenn Beck encouraged listeners [...]

Podcast Alert: ISmile243 – Relization, Hooray!

Michael McAlister — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:11:51 +0000

In this talk, Michael talks about the guidance offered by the famed Heart Sutra, and uses its closing words to illustrate the Path. via Infinite Smile » ISmile243 – Relization, Hooray!.

Podcast: ISmile242 – A Way, Not a Belief

Michael McAlister — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:20:48 +0000

In this talk, Michael talks about deconstructing spiritual work in ways that enliven, rather than deaden, the deepest aspects of our lives. via Infinite Smile.

Podcast: ISmile241 – Doesn’t Religion Suck?

Michael McAlister — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:40:12 +0000

In this talk, Michael talks about a “question” posed to him recently: “Doesn’t Religion Suck?”His response to this question is at once nuanced and humorous, touching on the broader issues surrounding attachment in our daily lives. via ISmile241 – Doesn’t Religion Suck?.

4 Steps for Managing the Attention Paid to Social Media

Michael McAlister — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:33:59 +0000

Soren Gordhamer, organizer of the Wisdom 2.0 Conference, writes that we need to 1.) know that our external reflects our internal, 2.) do one thing at a time, 3.) invite instead of force, and 4.) know where our attention is most needed. Phrases for any spiritual practitioner to live by. As a conclusion, Gordhamer gives [...]