Posted inPersonal/Stories

Sorting out your wantings with a thought cloud

Obviously I don't know how your brain/mind works. Heck, I don't even know how my brain/mind works, even though so far as I, neuroscience, and Buddhism can tell, there is no difference between me and my brain/mind. (From here on out I'll just say "mind" instead of "brain/mind," since the mind is the brain in action.) Nevertheless, what I feel when I ponder some subject is that thought clouds, for lack of a better term, start to form and float around within conscious awareness.  Each is a concept of sorts. But maybe more like a feeling. Or an intuition. Regardless, they…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

Almost-65 me is asked “what best prepares for old age?”

Longer ago than I want to admit (I dislike procrastination, even though I engage in it frequently), someone who was reading my book about Plotinus, "Return to the One," emailed me a good question about growing old. More recently, he reminded me of the question that I hadn't answered. Here's part of his email. Have you got around to putting any thought into my last inquiry...  “In light of Platonism and maintaining good mental health, what would you say might prepare a person best for old age, as in the interval between old age and death?” Even though I may…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Spiritual practice/meditation

Finding joy in a meaningless life

A few days ago I was riding my bike in central Oregon. I was having a good time cruising around the dirt roads and nicely graveled bike paths in oh-so-charming Camp Sherman, where the Metolius River flows. Pedaling along, idly pondering the Meaning of It All, my brain ejected a marvelous thought that instantly struck me as having a great intuitive appeal. There's no meaning to life, which is absolutely freaking glorious! I felt like a weight had been lifted from my pondering psyche. Meaning is heavy, man. It isn't something you toss around lightly.  Even if you're no longer…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

Missing dog food can shows power of false belief

"Where is the dog food left over from what you fed them last night?" My wife, Laurel, asked a simple question. It led to a fascinating insight into how our brains work. OK, how my brain worked after I heard the question. But my brain is pretty damn normal most of the time. And I've read enough neuroscience books to know that how I responded is a good example of how false beliefs that can seem absolutely true take root in the human brain. Laurel added, "I can't find it in the refrigerator." I told her, "It must be there.…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Reality

Be confident in what you believe, knowing you could be wrong

In one of Huston Smith's books he mentions a Zen friend who has a new koan: "I could be wrong." I loved those words when I came across them.  This is the crux (or at least one of the crux's... or cruxii?) of being human.  We have to go through life confidently. Dithering is a poor excuse for genuine living. And dancing. I learned this early on when my wife and I started taking ballroom dance lessons. The man usually is the leader. It's much better if he decisively does something wrong, then hesitate while the beat of the music…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Reality

I reveal Mystery of the Cosmos: its strange!

Yesterday I achieved one of my lifelong goals: I became a newspaper columnist. Sure, the paper is Salem Weekly -- which actually is published every two weeks, but since this is Salem's alternative newspaper, likely most of the readers are too stoned to notice. And Salem Weekly is free. So I'm a columnist in a paper which gets grabbed out of boxes, sometimes by people who need a foundation layer for their kitty litter. But like I said in a post on my other blog: Still, hey, I'm a columnist! Along with Paul Krugman and Thomas Friedman. I'm just one…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

I changed a Bollywood actor’s life… turning him vegetarian

Until recently I'd never heard of Shahid Kapoor, a Bollywood actor in India. But it turns out that we have a connection: after reading my book, Life is Fair, Kapoor became a vegetarian. Here's the tale, as told in "The Man Who Changed Shahid Kapoor's Life"  His father, who follows Radha Soami, had been preaching to him for years about the benefits of eating only what is grown in the farms, had no effect on him; but the book converted him. A decade ago Shahid Kapoor turned vegetarian. He got on to a flight with a book Life Is Fair…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

A life lesson about “faith” I’ve learned on Maui, bodyboarding

Whenever I go to Maui, I learn something. Not from a book, holy or otherwise. Not from a person, revered or otherwise.  From experience. The best teacher. Usually from one of my favorite experiences, bodyboarding, which I'm only able to do in warm wavy water, something Hawaii has in abundance (in my home state, Oregon, we've got great ocean waves, but, damn, they're cold.) Bloggings about some of the past life lessons I've learned on Maui can be perused here, here, and here. What follows are insights gained on my most recent Maui visit. After some middling-good wave days, OK…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Radha Soami Satsang Beas Spiritual practice/meditation

Without religion, I enjoy feeling normal and not special

Recently I experienced an insignificant moment on an airplane which reminded me of how, when I was religious, experiences like this took on a wildly undeserved meaning. The flight attendants were coming down the aisle on their last beverage service before the plane landed. Sitting way in the back, I could hear repeatedly, "Would you like a complimentary Mai Tai?" I started to think about what I'd say when the two women got to my aisle.  I've probably only had a couple of Mai Tai's in my life. In fact, likely I've consumed less than a dozen alcoholic mixed drinks…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

Before Easter, I escape death. I feel sort of Jesus’y.

Back in the late 60's, the decade, not my age, I looked like Jesus often is depicted. This photo was taken (unposed, I should add) by a friend who had sponsored a gathering where I led a group in some yoga postures and meditation. Not exactly Christian, though my yoga teacher called his ashram "Christananda." Anyway, I share this information to establish an admittedly tenuous relationship between (1) the Christian celebration of Easter tomorrow, which marks Jesus' resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion, and (2) my recent celebration of a benign skin biopsy test, the "good news"…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Religions

Wow. I’m (finally) polite to some Jehovah’s Witnesses.

My Buddha-nature must be coming along nicely. This morning I was the most courteous I've ever been to the Jehovah's Witnesses who periodically ring our rural doorbell. And I had some reasons to be my usual blunt, ascerbic self. The blueberry-filled whole wheat pancake I usually have for Sunday breakfast had just been put on a plate, butter and syrup applied. I was hungry. Hearing the doorbell ring, my wife said "Who could that be at this time?" It took me about two seconds to make what turned out to be a highly accurate guess.  I opened the front door…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Radha Soami Satsang Beas Religions

Weird religious stuff I’ve believed or done

A couple of weeks into the New Year, I still haven't completely broken a half-hearted resolution: be more understanding and less in-your-face toward people I disagree with.  Such as on matters of religion or politics. Which are the main areas in life where I can get frothy at the mouth with indignation at how incredibly stupid some people can be who aren't like wise me. I've been trying to remember that over my 64 years of living, my own religious and political views have changed a lot. I've believed and done things in the past that my present self would…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Spiritual practice/meditation

Andrew Cohen is a tyrant, not a guru

It's always a pleasure to get an email message from someone who is thoughtful, churchless, a good writer, skeptical of gurus, and honestly blunt. In short, someone who reminds me of me!  Here's what Scott Little had to say about his conversion to reality from religion. It's nicely said. HIs observations about the tyranny of Andrew Cohen apply to other supposed "gurus" who manipulate devotees through emotional charisma. Thanks for letting me share your thoughts on this blog, Scott. Hello Brian, I found your Church of the Churchless blog today.  Thank you for your work there. I am a former Christian…
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Posted inMiscellaneous Personal/Stories

Skateboard wisdom: loosen your trucks to live freely

I like preaching un-sermons here in the Church of the Churchless. My inspiration can come from any source, so long as it isn't -- ugh! -- a holy book or holy person.  Today I want to praise the glory of loose trucks.  Now, some of you reading this won't understand what the hell "loose trucks" means, especially if you're over thirty. Others, including ancient 64 year old me, will, because we've embraced the marvelous spirituality of skateboarding/longboarding. Trucks are thingies that connect the wooden board to the wheels. They're what make it possible to turn the skateboard by shifting weight…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

Thanks, godless heathens, for a good blog year

This probably will be my last Church of the Churchless blog post. For 2012. (Oh, I so love to tantalize haters of my irreligosity with first sentences like that, who fail to realize that every profane, insulting comment or email they send my way makes me really happy -- because it encourages me to keep on doing what I'm doing: stand up for truth, openness, and reality against religious fundamentalists who hate those things.) It's been a good year. As has been every churchless year since November 2004, when I started this blog. I really appreciate the steady stream of…
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Posted inChristianity/Jesus Personal/Stories

No, Virginia, there isn’t a Santa Claus

My wife and I aren't super-grinches around Christmas. We're pleased to let religiously minded people engage in their fantasies about virgin births, humans who are sons of God, and other miraculous supernatural stuff. But I've got problems with encouraging a belief in Santa Claus as a real entity.  Looking upon Santa Claus as akin to the Easter Bunny is preferable. I doubt many kids believe in the literal reality of the Easter Bunny as intensely as they believe in Santa Claus. And giving up a belief in the Easter Bunny seemingly comes earlier and easier than a belief in Santa.…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories

Our Christmas letter shows unbelievers are — shock! — normal people

Every year it's my non-sacred duty to compose a Holiday, a.k.a. Christmas, Letter. I use "Holiday" on the letter itself, because sometimes my wife and I don't get around to mailing them until after December 25, and this gives us sort of an excuse. Hey, you're getting it before New Year's, which is the last end of year holiday.  Have a look if you want to get a glimpse into the Real World of the Church of the Churchless' unpastor. And gaze upon a photo of his amazingly adorable granddaughter. Download 2012 Christmas Letter PDF I capitalized "Real World" to…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Spiritual practice/meditation

An atheist meditation that pleases God

I'm a believer. Not in God. But in "covering my bases." (For those unfamiliar with American English, this means being thoroughly prepared for something.) I don't believe in God. But I believe in the possibility that God exists. Heck, I believe in the possibility that anything imaginable exists. Along with what can't be imagined, just to cover my bases. That's because I'm scientifically minded. Contrary to how many religious people view science, actually it is science that is most open to reality in any form, any guise, any way of being. Material. Energetic. Non-physical. Mathematical. Ethereal. Conscious. Unconscious. Higher dimensional. Lower…
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Posted inGod Personal/Stories Spiritual practice/meditation

A cup of coffee is more real than God. Drink up!

There's so much to like about reality. It's got real stuff in it. Way cool. This is what makes living so satisfying. And so frustrating. Yet always interesting. We bump into real stuff that isn't us.  Maybe that bump is with an attractive sexual partner. Maybe it is with a mountain whose steep slopes challenge our climbing skills. Maybe it is with sitting still on a meditation cushion, aware of air going in and out of our nose. Maybe it is with cancer cells that have invaded our body. There's no end to the variety of encounters with physical reality.…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Science

Salem (Oregon) skeptics meet under Center for Inquiry banner

Last night my wife and I entered a den of secular, scientific skeptics. Not surprisingly, we enjoyed our first CFI Salem Humanists meeting. There was some sort of merging between the local Center for Inquiry and Humanist groups, but CFI seems to be the main banner under which they meet now. Laurel and I had read about the meeting, an honoring of Carl Sagan, in our local newspaper. We figured we'd meet some like-minded people. We figured right. There were quite a few other newbies in an upstairs room at the IKE Box coffeehouse. So it took a while for…
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