On the Logos: Christian Koans Part I

In the Buddhist Tradition, three collections of Koans stand out, as compilations used by teachers with their students.  In English, they're called "The Gateless Gate," "The Blue Cliff Record" and the "Book of Equanimity."

As a way of assisting ...

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Drawing from the Old Wells: Steps 7-12 of the Ladder of Humility

Brother Ed’s quote, the one I mentioned in “Drawing from the old Wells 4-6” is important.  His teacher, he said, was his cancer.  This showed me Ed had transitioned away from being a student. At some point, according to Benedict’s Rul...

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Drawing from the Old Wells: Steps 4-6 of Benedict's Ladder of Humility

In step 4 particularly, (and to a lesser extent steps 5 and 6) the Rule’s transformative rubber meets the road.  The text says "in this obedience under difficult, unfavorable or even unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering." ...

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Drawing from the old wells: Steps 1-3 of Benedict's Ladder of Humility

In October 26th’s “Christ, Christians, and the Body Language of Transformation”, Under the Influence lamented that there are no criteria by which to judge orthomorphosis, or “right transformation.”  The post described a transformation in ...

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