Peace on Earth

The coming of the Christ child 2000 years ago was marked by the angels singing Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men. After they vanished the atmosphere was charged wuth peace. The shepherds who heard them went into Bethlehem in search of this child. They found him in a manger tended to by his mother and Joseph.The divine child was born into the most humble curcumstance. As humble as the... Read more

MLK/PEACE-MAKER

From a young child I have always been a lover of peace. Yet even at a tender age I learned that it attracted the opposite power. So I was not surprised that the loving message of peace, reconciliation and universal rights preached by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. resulted in violence toward toward he and his followers. His was a spiritual message that radiated from the Divine and travelled from... Read more

HE HAS THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

When I was a child in Vacation Bible School we use to sing,"He's got the whole world in His hands. He's got you and me brother in His hands. He's got you and me sister in His hands." The "He" in the song referred to God. It was a very comforting song...a very comforting thought. Today we may think of political unrest and disease being in control of our world. As a result of this we are stressed... Read more

Schwanda dies at 17

There are so many people in debate over whether to take a Covid 19 shot or wear a mask. Perhaps the threat doesn't seem real to them. I know a family who knows through their personal tragedy how real it is. The family of Sherell Corprew had no plans to take the Covid 19 vaccination but all of that changed when Ms Corprew lost her youngest of seven daughters to the virus. Schwanda Corprew was seventeen,... Read more

Milton joins the ancestors

On May 30th I lost one of my students, Milton A. Reid, aka Kemet to the ancestors. He loved our culture and referred to me, his teacher, as one who s"stood in the gap for us." This was his assertion, not mine. When he came to me he told me he suffered from health issues. Nonetheless, his mind and resolve were strong. He gave himself wholly to Zen Mushin Ryu training and meditation without showing... Read more

From “Down Under” by way of England

Yan with Roshi Yan Paul Thompson flew from England to America to "have a cup of coffee" with Kitabu Roshi but in addition to a fresh cup of Zen, he worshipped at Third Baptist Church, the boyhood church of the Roshi. Kitabu Roshi had said, "leave your preconceived thoughts at the door with your shoes," as a precondition of the visit....and Yan did just that. When Yan Paul Thompson said that he... Read more

True Love is Solid as a Rock

        Solid as a Rock, laying a foundation. It may look the same, veneer and wood but quality cannot be faked. Sex and love-making appear similar in technique but there is no comparison. Love is a spiritual power that keeps building its foundation until it is "SOLID AS A ROCK" (Ashford and Simpson). Don't diminish a higher experience by focusing on sex. You... Read more

Build a House of Love

Fathers aren't perfect, unless they are our Heavenly Father, but our Earth dads play a tremendous role on our lives, even if they are hard on us. Today is a good time to meditate on the positive experiences passed on to us by our fathers, and you to your children. Raise them with love and wisdom, be kind in your moments of discipline, and you will forever be their hero, especially to your daughters.... Read more

A VISHWA DHARMA ZEN LESSON: Zen Mind is not just for Buddhist

This depiction of Roshi Kitabu Turner was featured in EnlightenmentNext magazine. It was the centerfold of the issue. There was a time, an eternity ago, when my quest to embrace The Way was a secret quest. I was alone in my experimentation, aware only that I was being guided to step into the unknown with certainty. Since no one knew what I was doing there was no one to criticize my approach.... Read more

A Warrior’s Child…God Son in The Motherland

For awhile now. Tai Chi Togo, in Togo, Africa, through the good graces of its master, Leopold Ankude have treated me with great respect and honor. There is an effort under way to bring me to the Motherland to share my teachings in that the most historic setting for those of African descent. Yet, even there practitioners drink deeply of the classical Asian teachings. My understanding has always... Read more

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