"Murphy was an optimist!"
Spirirtually Cleansing and Renewing August 9, 2009 10:18 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , add a commentI participated in a fantastic sweat lodge last night. It’s a great experience I’d recommend to anyone.
add a commentCan you donate some antlers? June 22, 2009 12:40 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest, Philanthropy, Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , add a commentThe Center for Peace is in need of some new antlers for their sweat lodges. The Center for Peace is located in Seymour, TN and people travel from all over to visit.
We offer many opportunities, such as: Visionary Dances; Sweat Lodges; Fire Ceremonies; chanting/drumming gatherings; young people’s ceremonies and activities; Core Shamanism; Huna Shamanism; Vision Quests; teachings on drumming and working with fire; workshops on various topics such as numerology, fire walking, Druidic traditions, sound healing and chanting, shamanic studies, and many more; initiation ceremonies; supporting ceremonies in the local, regional, and international communities; and a safe, family-like environment to grow in. [Source, CenterforPeace.us]
If you have a set of antlers that could be used to say pick up a football and move it and are willing to donate them, they would be very useful to the Center for Peace.
I personally have attended several sweat lodges at the Center for Peace. Mostly recognized as a Native American tradition, non-Indian sweat lodges can be found in the fifth century BC. My personal experience has been that a sweat lodge is a ritual of spiritual cleansing not limited to a particular belief system or religion. The attendees has always been a diverse crowd religiously as well as professionally. I have met artisans, lawyers, philosophers, educators, land developers, environmental activists and others at the sweats. I believe the Center for Peace is yet another East TN treasure that few may know about. If you are so inclined, I highly encourage you to experience an activity at the Center for Peace.
add a commentQuestions of a Wanna Be Buddhist May 26, 2009 12:47 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , add a commentAs I explore a topic, I generate questions. I often record these questions in a notebook. As I explore Buddhism, I am recording my questions here.
At SGI-USA I have read about the Gohonzon which lends a bit of an answer to question 3 "when can I chant?" and specifically "can I chant while cooking bacon?" The Gohonzon is a replica of the scroll on which Nichiren Daishonin inscribed Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and his signature. The Gohonzon is used as a focal point for daily practice or gongyo. Further answering question 3:
The Japanese word gongyo literally means "assiduous practice." The practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and recite portions of both the second (Expedient Means) and the sixteenth (Life Span) chapters of the Lotus Sutra in front of the Gohonzon. This is the fundamental practice of Nichiren Buddhism, performed morning and evening. [Source, Soka Gakkai Interational-USA, Gongyo]
Question 8: Does chanting have to be aloud or in a crowded space is it sufficient to chant silently within your head? Based on my own experience, I would say either is acceptable but chanting out loud is more effective.
Who is cousin Roofoo? (okay..that one was a joke) Kosen-rufu means to spread widely. "[Shakyamuni Buddha] meant that the spread of the Mystic Law would bring about peace in society and nature." [Source, SGI Library Online, kosen-rufu]
add a commentQuestions of a Wanna Be Buddhist May 23, 2009 9:28 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , 5commentsI’ve had an eclectic spiritual upbringing. My father was Catholic and my mother was Southern Baptist. My family moved every 3-4½ years and I thought this nomadic pattern would continue after I graduated from UT but Knoxville grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. So our church pattern, if I recall correctly, after moving to a new city we would not go to church for about a year, then my folks would start shopping churches which felt like a year long process of visiting various churches (although we never tried a synagogue, Greek Orthodox, or Mormon church), then we would spend about a year in a particular church, usually Presbyterian or Methodist, before moving onto another city and repeating the pattern. In college, I had a roommate who was a practicing Wiccan and religious studies major and one of my best friends was Mormon. We had some very interesting conversations. One particularly memorable one involved a chalkboard, a figurine from Disney World that we named Jaboody – Decider of Fates, and Purgatory. In short, I’ve been exposed to a lot of different views regarding religion and spirituality.
Awhile back I thought I’d learn a little about Buddhism and read a book (which has gone awol so I cannot reference it right now) that described Buddism from a historic perspective, discussed the different branches, and defined terms. Shortly after reading that book, I became involved with Seesmic as one of its first 1200 users for alpha testing. Also in that group of early adopters was someone named Jason Jarrett. After some fun conversations, I noticed his profile referenced a website called A Buddhist Podcast which sounded interesting and I clicked over. Jason and Karen Jarrett produce a wonderful podcast. They are well spoken, fun to listen to, have great content and a well formatted show. However, I’m not sure if at that time in my life the show would have grabbed me and held onto me had it not been for clicking into a reading of The Buddha, Geoff and Me
Question 1: So what is Buddhism about? I like Jason Jarrett’s words:
Buddhism is about revitalizing humanity, and transforming the world we live in from one dominated by greed, anger, and stupidity into one of peace and happiness. [Source, Jason Jarrett of A Buddhist Podcast, A Buddhist Podcast - Bodhisattvas of the Earth, 2:46-2:58]
The Soka Gakkai International-USA explains that the daily practice of Nichiren Buddhism involves faith, practice and study. So far, I’ve learned how to chant..sort of. I have a long way to go to get to the study part. My understanding of Buddhism has come almost solely from A Buddhist Podcast. For me, Jason Jarrett has made an incredibly positive impression of Buddhism. He flabbergasted me and even offered to make an international call to me one day. I was blown away because it felt like Harrison Ford offering to call me out of the blue and discuss how to be an actor in Hollywood. I just didn’t see how I could be worthy of his time and felt guilty at the possibility of causing him the expense of a call for something that I potentially was just trying on for size. I’ve since learned, that’s kind of how it works. I’m not describing a conversion to a religion but more of sharing of knowledge in a way similar to how Stephen R Covey would encourage you to teach time management to others
Update: The kind people at SGI Knoxville have contacted me. There is an active chapter in Knoxville.
Question 2: Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy? If I recall correctly, the book which I cannot seem to lay hands on right now referred to Buddhism as a philosophy. However, Jason Jarrett and Karen Jarrett and their guests have referred to Buddhism as a religion. So that leads me to part a of question 2: Does it matter? and part b of question 2: Can a Baptist, Native American, Jew, Muslim, Catholic, Atheist, Wiccan, or anyone of any other religion also be a Buddhist? (and again, does it mater?)
Question 3: When can I chant? I started trying to learn to meditate at an early age. In my early teens I read book after book on hypnosis and self-hypnosis hoping for some means of reaching a deeper calm. I never could seem to figure out how to meditate through any process. That’s not entirely true. I’ve always been able to escape with juggling. I have often spoken of juggling as a transcendental and spiritual activity for me. Through juggling I can lose myself into a very meditative state but that’s often a sweaty process and I wanted some om’s and ah’s in my life! Nichiren Buddhism introduced me to chanting Daimoku and it came very naturally for me. As a matter of fact, this method of chanting is so straight forward that my 6 year old girl picked it up and often asks me to chant with her as she drifts off to sleep. My 3 year old boy has participated too. Chanting Daimoku works for me. It calms my mind, focuses my thoughts, center or grounds me, and I do feel happier when chanting. Daimoku is a Buddhist prayer made up of 6 syllables in these words "nam-myoho-renge-kyo." The wikipedia article gives a technical interpretation by I like Jason Jarrett’s plain English version better:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the Buddhist prayer that means I dedicate my life to bringing out the very best in myself and in all people. [Source, Jason Jarrett of A Buddhist Podcast, A Buddhist Podcast - Bodhisattvas of the Earth, 24:17-26:12]
I keep that written in a notebook that I carry with me at all times. When I slip, I look at that note as a reminder. Amy, on her own accord, has done the same (although technically her notebook remains by her bedside). So, now that we know what chanting is, when can I do it? Can I chant while cooking bacon? Is Buddhism a PETA thing? The stereotypes in my mind say Buddha Vegan while The Buddha, Geoff and Me tear down those impressions. Can I chant while driving the car? My cluttered mind loves a drive. Yes, I should be paying attention to the road and not running through the mazes in my brain. Chanting while driving down the road could help me focus on the road more by driving off those random thoughts. Or, does chanting require a specific time, in front of an alter in a distraction free quiet space?
Question 4: If I use Buddhism to seek happiness, do I have to fire my therapist? I would say I have easily spent ¾ of my life soul searching. I would say that despite having a life full of joyful moments, I have been fundamentally unhappy, and downright angry, that same ¾ of my life. If you had a Buddhist teacher (see question 5), at what point does it become abusive to that person’s time to have them try to help you onto a path of happiness and shouldn’t they just throw up their arms and shout out, "Get on prozac. Get a psychologist. And call me in the morning!" Honestly, I struggle to keep myself in check and not over bemoan my existence to my friends. I often re-read Reality Me and think that I should have handed the keys to the blog to someone else for that week. Where’s the line between seeking spiritual enlightenment and grasping at straws in hopes someone else will magically solve your problems?
Question 5: Where’s Mr Miyagi or Caine? As a child I was a Bruce Lee fan and a David Carradine (Kung Fu) fan. My Of Grasshoppers posts are a bit of an homage to Kung Fu. I loved the martial arts movies. One of the consistent elements of these movies that I liked (besides the fighting and awesome stunts) was the master, the teacher, the wizened sage like Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid. I always hoped such a mystic would sneak into my life. In hindsight, I knew several Caines and Mr. Miyagis. Even today, they surround me but I won’t realize this until tomorrow. Does learning Buddhism require a teacher?
Question 6: What about me has to change to practice Buddhism? Must I give up possessions? What about the things I find pleasurable in life? Do my views on life and death have to change?
our view of death has a profound affect on how we view life. If we think we only have one life then we are often hedonistic or pessimistic. [Source, Twitter, @jasonjarrett]
Question 7: When can you declare yourself a Buddhist? I’ve never been clear on question regardless of what the last word is. When can you declare yourself a Catholic? When can you declare yourself a Wiccan? When can you declare yourself _____? Is there a test? Do you even have to say you are a Buddhist? Can’t you simply be practicing Buddhism? How do you become a member of the Soka Gakkai International? I don’t see a join us form on the website or a purchase membership option.
I’ll stop there. This has been far too many words for most people to read but then again this post is mostly directed to me. My next post on Buddhism has already begun being written in my mind. It will be titled I don’t have the strength or discipline to be a Buddhist.
Update: Question 8 has its own post.
5commentsSeen on a bumper sticker April 24, 2009 1:48 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Philosophy, Quote, Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , add a commentBased upon this, I’d say I’m very spiritual.
A religious person is a someone who is afraid of Hell; a spiritual person has been there and back.
In fact, I’m so spiritual I keep going back for more!
add a comment2nd Place: “Women Were Designed For Homemaking” April 13, 2009 9:03 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Religion / Spirituality, Science, Touchy Subjects , 9commentsMaybe the Creationists are onto something!
Jonathan Goode (grade 7) applied findings from many fields of science to support his conclusion that God designed women for homemaking: physics shows that women have a lower center of gravity than men, making them more suited to carrying groceries and laundry baskets; biology shows that women were designed to carry un-born babies in their wombs and to feed born babies milk, making them the natural choice for child rearing; social sciences show that the wages for women workers are lower than for normal workers, meaning that they are unable to work as well and thus earn equal pay; and exegetics shows that God created Eve as a companion for Adam, not as a co-worker. [Source, OBJECTIVE: Ministries, Fellowship Baptist Creation Science Fair 2001 Article by Dr. Richard Paley & FBCSF Staff]
Other winners:
- Elementary School Level
- 1st Place: "My Uncle Is A Man Named Steve (Not A Monkey)"
- 2nd Place: "Pine Cones Are Complicated"
- Middle School Level
- 1st Place: "Life Doesn’t Come From Non-Life"
- 2nd Place: "Women Were Designed For Homemaking"
- High School Level
- 1st Place: "Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria"
- 2nd Place: "Maximal Packing Of Rodentia Kinds: A Feasibility Study"
The Creation Science Fair honorable mentions are equally as great with my favorite being a tie between "Pokemon Prove Evolutionism Is False" and "Thermodynamics Of Hell Fire."
9commentsQuestions from a wanna be Buddhist April 6, 2009 10:55 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , add a commentWhen the day is spinning out of control, would stopping for 15 minutes of Daimoku help or make you feel 15 minutes more behind?
add a commentBuddhism is about revitalizing humanity, and transforming the world we live in from one dominated by greed, anger, and stupidity into one of peace and happiness. [Source, Jason Jarrett of A Buddhist Podcast, A Buddhist Podcast - Bodhisattvas of the Earth, 2:46-2:58]
Get 14,000 Followers On Twitter In One Day February 8, 2009 8:15 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Communications, Of Interest, Religion / Spirituality, Technology, Touchy Subjects , 2commentsHow do you get 14,000 followers on Twitter in one day? Be the Dalai Lama! You can follow His Holiness at @OHHDL and of course visit the Dalai Lama website. And, on a lesser note, you can follow me on Twitter @djuggler.
Update: The title should have actually been How to go from 0 to 14,000 to 0 followers on Twitter in one day considering @OHHDL was an impostor. See Willfull’s comment..
2commentsLife mimics Hollywood – Bibleland! January 25, 2008 1:57 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , add a commentWasn’t this a Simpon’s episode?
add a commentMURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Rutherford County Commissioners have been meeting privately with the developers of a controversial Bible-themed park. [Source, Knoxnews]
Happy Holidays You Bigots December 14, 2007 3:45 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects, United States , 4commentsUpdate: I’ve had it explained that this is just one of those fluff things that The House does.
4commentsI would have considered you but… May 4, 2007 7:05 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects, United States , add a commentRaise your hand if you are ready to get off the stage.
add a commentEvolution Does Not Exist March 28, 2007 7:04 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Religion / Spirituality, Science, Touchy Subjects , add a commentOH! I finally get it. There is no such thing as evolution! I just never looked at the peanut butter. (The smugness in their misunderstanding of science is almost irritating.)
add a commentWill they worship its butt? September 27, 2006 3:27 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , 1 comment so farWe’ve seen the Virgin Mary under bridges (pictures), on toast ($28,000 worth of toast!), in fence posts, hospitals, a George Foreman grill, and stealing from Lady Godiva’s show – chocolate.
Her son has learned from his mother and made appearances in a tree, an ultrascan, hot chocolate, a beer glass, and playing foosball at your child’s college dorm. But some may find Jesus’ latest encore a bit disturbing. Jesus is in a dog’s butt.
I haven’t found the ebay auction for the dog yet, but I’m betting it goes for $888,111 and includes a neutering.
This post is going to get me in trouble isn’t it? I’ll blame this guy the giver the link!
1 comment so farCORRECTION: TN Does Not Separate Church and State Either August 18, 2006 3:53 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Regional Politics (SE), Religion / Spirituality, Touchy Subjects , 4commentsEarlier I posted that Arkansas does not allow Atheists to hold government office nor testify as witnesses. I went on to suggest that TN had been out done in their efforts to live backwards by legislating beliefs and morals. I was wrong. Per Article IX Section 2 of the TN State Constitution.
Section 2. No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards
and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this
state. [Source]
As a matter of fact, religion [implied Christian] is so important to the state of Tennessee that Article IX Section 1 specifically excludes ministers from holding office since their duties are far more important.
Section 1. Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated
to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great
duties of their functions; therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or priest of any
denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature. [Source]
Arkansas and Tennessee are in good company. Apparently, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas all require the believe of a supreme being and/or afterlife and in some cases you must specifically be a Christian to hold office or be a witness.
So, not only are Atheists going to Hell (a place they don’t believe exists) but they cannot hold one of the most corrupt jobs known to man for which they would go to Hell anyway.
4commentsIt’s because our a/c is broken June 22, 2006 3:53 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Politics, Religion / Spirituality, Science, Technology, Touchy Subjects, United States , 3commentsCNN reports: Study: Earth ‘likely’ hottest in 2,000 years
The National Academy of Sciences, reaching that conclusion in a broad review of scientific work requested by Congress, reported Thursday that the “recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia.”
A panel of top climate scientists told lawmakers that the Earth is heating up and that “human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming.”
This is Bush’s fault!
Other new research Thursday showed that global warming produced about half of the extra hurricane-fueled warmth in the North Atlantic in 2005, and natural cycles were a minor factor
Or maybe Jesus’…Because, it was cool when he was around.
The Bush administration has maintained that the threat is not severe enough to warrant new pollution controls…
Yes! It’s Bush’s fault!
The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization chartered by Congress to advise the government of scientific matters.
Ok then…it’s Jesus’ fault.
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