@bro-durham
active 1 month, 1 week ago-
Steve Durham‘s profile was updated 1 month, 1 week ago
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 7th January in the forum Monday Nembutsu 1 month, 1 week ago
My wife and I went (along with a group from my Quaker meeting) to see the movie “Green Book” a week ago. I don’t know whether this will be showing in European cities, but if it is, we highly recommend it. The “Green Book” is the actual title of a booklet showing African American travelers through the Deep South in the U.S. in the 1950s and 19…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Three books for 2019? in the forum Book reviews 1 month, 1 week ago
(1) I’m re-reading The Unhindered Path by John Paraskevopoulos — am taken by the clarity of his writing, and especially by the sections on Amida Buddha and the Absolute. Energizing!
(2) Witness: Lessons From Elie Wiesel’s Classroom by Ariel Burger. The title says it all.
(3) The Fragrance of Light also by John Paraskevopoulos — a coll…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 3rd December in the forum Monday Nembutsu 2 months, 2 weeks ago
A cold and rather gloomy day in Chicago. A friend of mine thrives on such days; but while I appreciate the occasional cloudy, rainy or snowy day, I miss the sun! Last night we saw “A Christmas Carol” for at least the 20th time. We used to take the kids every year. The sets were wonderful, the acting … well, it depends on the character. I fo…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 12th November in the forum Monday Nembutsu 3 months, 1 week ago
It’s bitterly cold here in Chicago this morning. Wind chills are far below freezing. I worry about the homeless on mornings like this, above all about those who didn’t make it to a shelter last night.
Currently I’m re-reading “The Unhindered Path” by John Paraskevopoulos, and am looking for other good Pure Land reads. I just finished “On th…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham posted an update 7 months, 1 week ago
Hot and humid in Chicago today. A good day for the air conditioners. My in-laws have officially moved in with us, and occupy a furnished basement apartment in our little house. My father-in-law is 97, my mother-in-law 93, and they need custodial care, hence the move. Meanwhile I’m hard at work editing my novel (mostly straightening up page…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 25th June in the forum Monday Nembutsu 8 months ago
Cool and rainy here (Chicago USA), although in another day or so it also will be baking hot. My in-laws are moving in with us in another 10 days — both well into their 90s and physically unable to take care of themselves any longer — so our house is torn up as we get our little basement apartment ready for new occupants. Since all we have o…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 21st May in the forum Monday Nembutsu 9 months ago
In Chicago (USA) we’re coming out of an unseasonable chilly spell, into some unseasonably warm (hot) weather. I think over all I miss the chilly weather! I’m a Quaker serving as a police chaplain (interesting mix!), and today was “Police Recognition Day.” The chaplain team along with graduates of a “Citizen Police Academy” put on 18 hours of fo…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham posted a new activity comment 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you, Johnathan. It’s good to be back too!
-
Steve Durham posted a new activity comment 9 months, 2 weeks ago
It’s good to be back!
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 8th of May in the forum Monday Nembutsu 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Namo Amida Bu.
It has been a long time since I posted (and since I did a lesson in Vow 22, which I sorely regret). Illness and general busyness have kept me sidetracked. A quick update: I will be offering a 1 or 2 session “course” in Pure Land Buddhism (probably jodo shinshu) at my Quaker Meeting House next fall. The larger schedule will…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham posted an update 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I will be teaching a class in Pure Land Buddhism in my Quaker meeting next fall. Depending on the larger schedule, I may be able to break it into two parts and go at it in at least somewhat more depth. Namo Amida Bu _/|\_
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 8th May in the forum Monday Nembutsu 1 year, 9 months ago
Enjoying some beautiful, if slightly chilly, weather in Chicago over the weekend and today. I attended my new church — Quakers — for the first time a “free man” yesterday … i.e. I’m only going back to my Orthodox church one more time, in a little over a month, for our priest’s last service before retirement. Otherwise I’m now a Quaker! …[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic What is your question for the Buddha? in the forum Amida Shu Buddhist Practice 1 year, 10 months ago
My question is: How do I relate to you (Amida Buddha) on a daily basis? That is to say: Is this a “personal” relationship?
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic New Skype Listening Circle, next Tuesday in the forum News from Amida Mandala 1 year, 10 months ago
Never mind — I answered my question by Googling the difference between GMT and my time zone in the US.
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic New Skype Listening Circle, next Tuesday in the forum News from Amida Mandala 1 year, 10 months ago
I have an ignorant question — how would 7:30 p.m. GMT translate to the Eastern time zone in the USA (e.g. New York, Maryland)? Does anyone know? If it is an hour I can make, I’d be interested in participating, although I might need to practice first (I have Skype but have never used it). Namo Amida Bu _/|_
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 3rd April in the forum Monday Nembutsu 1 year, 10 months ago
It is cold and rainy here (Chicago), with temperatures to reach the low 70s (Fahrenheit) by early next week … but not before it snows! Grrrrr. I hate shoveling snow. Snow days are mostly good for staying inside, curled up with a good book! But snow is forecast for the Suchness of things, so I’ll not complain again 😉 Speaking of book…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic What is your daily practice? in the forum Amida Shu Buddhist Practice 1 year, 11 months ago
I call it my “daily, non-traditional [from a Christian perspective] prayers” … every morning I can, I light a candle and place it before a Buddha figurine (occasionally one that includes Kuan Yin), bow and say the nembutsu in all 4 directions. Then I pray in a fairly traditional way, using some prayer phrases I learned in Eastern Orthodox…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 13th of March in the forum Monday Nembutsu 1 year, 11 months ago
Greetings from Chicago, where it finally has snowed. A not bad snowfall, as a matter of fact. I’m hard at work trying to figure out what to do with myself, not having a sangha and no clear way to practice. I do have my new Quaker community, or will by late June when I make the change; but as open and flexible as they are — and they are! — I s…[Read more]
-
Steve Durham replied to the topic Monday 27th February in the forum Monday Nembutsu 1 year, 11 months ago
Satya — thank you for remembering me in Friday morning’s service! That means a great deal.
Johnathan — best wishes to you on your new UU journey!
Namo Amida Bu _/_
- Load More