Mike Widney
http://freequaker.wordpress.com
“You gotta challenge all assumptions. If you don’t, what is doctrine on day one becomes dogma forever after.”
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“SHOHAKU OKUMURA: We human beings have the ability to think of things not in front of us. We create stories in our minds in which the hero or heroine is always us. We evaluate what happened in the past, we analyze our present conditions, and we anticipate what should happen in the future. This is an important ability. Because of it, we can create art, study history, and have visions of the future. Without it, we couldn’t write or enjoy poems or movies. Almost all of human culture depends on seeing things not in front of our eyes. This means almost all culture is fictitious. Our ability to create such fictions is the reality of our lives. We cannot live without it. But this ability leads to many problems. We have certain expectations of our stories. If things go as we expect, we feel like heavenly beings, but if not, we feel we’re in hell. Often we desire more and more without ever experiencing satisfaction, like hungry ghosts. It’s important to see that it’s not life that causes suffering but our expectation that life should be the way we want. We can’t live without expectation, but if we can handle the feelings caused by the difference between our expectations and reality, that’s liberation. Zazen practice as taught by Dogen Zenji, Sawaki Roshi, and Uchiyama Roshi is taking a break from watching the screen of our stories and sitting down on the ground of the reality that exists before our imagination. When we’re not taken in by our fictitious world, we can enjoy and learn from the stories we make.”
― Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo
― Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo
“Rules were invented by elders so they could get to bed early. Men who speak endlessly on authority only prove they have none. And kings who make speeches about submission only betray twin fears in their hearts: they are not certain they are really true leaders, sent of God. And they live in mortal fear of a rebellion...
No... authority from God is not afraid of challenges, makes no defense, and cares not one whit if it must be dethroned.”
― A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness
No... authority from God is not afraid of challenges, makes no defense, and cares not one whit if it must be dethroned.”
― A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness
“He who takes up the sword perishes by the sword. He who refuses to take up the sword perishes on the cross.”
― The Prisoner in the Third Cell
― The Prisoner in the Third Cell
“However, for human beings, practice is much too tiresome. We want to show our appreciation like sightseers, without doing it ourselves. Like spectator sports, which are very popular, the Zen fad is really a spectator Zen or Zen sightseeing fad.
Roshi, Kosho Uchiyama. Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo (Kindle Locations 2165-2167). Wisdom Publications. Kindle Edition.”
― Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo
Roshi, Kosho Uchiyama. Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo (Kindle Locations 2165-2167). Wisdom Publications. Kindle Edition.”
― Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo
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— last activity Mar 28, 2026 05:01PM
A group for people interested in preparedness related books – both fiction and non-fiction. From Prepper, homesteading, urban survival and wilderness ...more
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This is a group to discuss books about the ancient, New Testament concept of ekklesia, based on 1 Corinthians 14:26. It is also called organic church, ...more
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What books are meaningful for you as a Friend? What books are/have been helpful on your spiritual journey?
Betsie's World
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— last activity Feb 17, 2018 10:22PM
I'm Betsie and I like to read. I'd love to have someone to talk to about the books I'm reading and get recommendations. I read a wide variety of books ...more
Mike’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Mike’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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