Jonathan H. B. Lobl

America has produced the Mormons, Christian Science and the Spiritualist Movement. Of lesser note, I think, the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Seventh Day Adventists. Yes. The Snake Handlers. I was a member of Mahikari for a few years. Nice people. When I couldn't take it any more, I sent my Divine Pendant (Omitama) back to Japan. The Johrei people were much milder. I thought about Joining. Then I decided that I was done with Divine Pendants. And prayer. In hindsight, I can see parallels between these movements and Reiki. A separate conversation. My development was not linear.

"When you come to a fork in the road, pick it up." Japan does give birth to some interesting movements. Have you encountered Mahikari or Johrei? 😎

One of my favorite Buddhist quotes, comes from Kadem Morton. A monk in a Tibetan lineage. "The gods are illusory. But if we ask them for assistance, they will help us anyway." It's similar to a "joke" told by secular Jews. "There is no God, and we are his people."

There were plenty of testimonials. They reminded me of the stories out of China, during the "Cultural Revolution". Perhaps you remember some of them? There was the group of people that were in danger. They all shouted -- "Long live Chairman Mao!" Then, there would be a miracle and everybody was saved. People would get a job, because they chanted. They would get fired, and were able to collect unemployment insurance, because they chanted. A lot of it was interpretation of events. Much like Evangelicals, talking about how Jesus had blessed them. They believed. They interpreted. They did mental gymnastics, to make the facts fit the narrative. Sometimes, the group leaders would insist that I give a testimonial. I would think of something good that had happened to me -- and attribute my good fortune to the chanting. Nobody questioned it. Much of it was on that level.

Evangelical Churches? Are you sure it's not -- "Let us prey." -- ?

I was 19 when an attractive young woman walked up, and invited me to a Buddhist meeting. I took a good look at her, and decided. Yes. I was interested in Buddhism. Her name was Greta. Over the next few years, she brought in a lot of young men. It's largely a system of magical chanting. They literally chant for specific wishes to come true. They want a new job -- they chant. They want their team to win -- they chant. They want a new boyfriend -- they chant. The spiritual mechanism behind this process, is cause and effect. The cause is sincere chanting. What ever it is they are chanting for -- is the effect. When I was a member, I had this fantasy. Buddha would walk in, and take in what they were doing. In the name of Buddhism. He would then pick up a big stick and beat the crap out of them. When I had all the foolishness I could stand from them -- I left. I gave my altar scroll back to the organization. I didn't have to, but it seemed honorable.

I encountered the Nichiren Shoshu back in the early 1970's.

Alright. That makes sense. It also describes me.

Placebos often seem to work. Our minds can make us sick. Our minds can make us well. To a point. Past that point, is where we need medical science. I do understand your perspective. I have extensive training in Reiki. Also, training in Therapeutic Touch. Yes. People do rush to judgement about what does and does not work. If you're interested, I think that's a side conversation.

My favorite line from the Tai Te Ching comes from the first poem. "The Tao that can be named, is not the eternal Tao." I love that.

Things change. On a completely different note, I have a Zen question. Something I read years ago. I don't remember where. It quotes a Zen monk. "I know I'm already an enlightened master. Why am I still miserable?" Years later, I'm still thinking about that. Please comment.

The I Ching casts light on modern physics. What is nothing? It turns out that nothing is something and has greater than zero mass. More, nothing is unstable and is full of quantum fluctuations. What is it that keeps the galaxies from flying apart? That speck of darkness at the center. We call that speck of darkness -- a super massive black hole. We have all seen the Yin Yang symbol. There is a speck of darkness in the light. There is a speck of light in the darkness. It keeps things stable. What happens inside a black hole? Space collapses. Time stops. What happens in the space between galactic clusters? Space expands. The I Ching teaches us that when something is all Yin -- it becomes unstable and turns into Yang. Also that when something is all Yang -- it becomes unstable and turns into Yin. Not bad, for over 5,000 years ago.

Don't overlook the I Ching. The Book of Change. It has good insights into the nature of reality. In over simplified terms -- the harmonizing of opposite forces, into dynamic balance. Much of it is beyond me. The little that I do get is impressive.

Thank you. As you say, people are impatient, with short attention spans. I'm working on helping my students cultivate patience. It's the times. People want everything fast. An addendum. Zazen is an austere, difficult path. I'm impressed.

People don't want to do their own thinking. They want a strong leader, who will think for them. This is a cultural ideal. Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd......." There we have it. Sheep, following their shepherd, to the slaughter.

Because Evangelical fear mongering -- like their religious preaching -- is for the reality impaired.

An addendum: When tragedy strikes California or New York, the Evangelicals jump right in. They blame gay people, abortion, feminists, etc. When tragedy strikes Oklahoma, or Texas or Mississippi -- the Evangelicals go silent. The usual double standard.

That would be nice.

Since you asked, I am certified to teach Dr. Lam's Tai Chi for Arthritis system. It is modified Sun Tai Chi with qi gong. I teach (volunteer) at two senior centers. My personal practice is more diverse. If you care, I can go into more detail.

These people have a wrathful, homicidal, genocidal and jealous invisible friend. It's their mentality. Of course, their invisible friend does what they would do. Their invisible friend is what they project onto him. Of course, their invisible friend is as vicious and evil as they are -- hating the same people that they hate.

There is no substitute for breath work.

The Plot Sickens. https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/walmart-attempts-to-suppress-consumer-protection-lawsuit-by-stoking-prejudice-against-secular-humanists/

It's the politics of fear mongering and division. Trump's specialty. Remember the meaning of politics. Poly, meaning many -- and tics, which are blood sucking bugs.

I'm having trouble with the buttons. I apologize for the mess. Yugoslavia is a scary example. This is what happens when old hatreds and divisions go out of control.