spiritual insights on religion, social justice and comparative theology
Darshan in sanscrit means “viewing.” A mortal beholds the spirit of a deity in everyday life, thus receives a blessing. This is likened in Catholicism to the idea of the “beatific vision.” I once heard a story of a holy person from India giving darshan to a spiritual seeker. The Hindu saint spent years in a … Continue reading Darshan by William Klein
There is a prominent belief out there that is contrary to all moral teaching. The end justifies the means. We’re taught in moral theology that the end does NOT justify the means. We can never justify an immoral action for the sake of gaining more for ourselves even for the purposes of good. Police may use … Continue reading The End Does Not Justify The Means by William Klein
Our families can make or break us. Each individual in a family has a designated role – this is especially true in large families. It’s hard to break out of these roles and redefine ourselves as we get older and find our place in the world. Sometimes we cannot accept these roles as we grow … Continue reading Siblings Day by William Klein
When I consider what the Far East has offered our world, it breaks my heart to see people exercise such cruelty to Asians. The Asian community is a group of people that are often overlooked in this country. Although they make up a considerable portion of the world’s population, you wouldn’t know it based on … Continue reading Confucius And Wisdom Of The Far East by William Klein
Contemplative life is open to all. Application of contemplative principles plus moral behavior equals the sum total of being. In the old days people thought this equation was understood and only open to religious. Thomas Merton was chastised for teaching the sacred geometry of being to the everyday churchgoer. He taught us the basic math … Continue reading The Sum Total Of Being by William Klein
Guys are crazy about fantasy league drafts. There is prepping, studying, running through the rank-and-file players with sixth sense intuition of needs to acquiring players who can get as many points as possible for any given league. It’s a great escape, true. It inspires the mind to wonder and consider “What if” situations, if they’d … Continue reading Fantasy League Relationships by William Klein
Sometimes we need to be reminded that there are unbearable situations out there that need to vanquished. We can do our part. We can stop judging others and pointing to the people who need assistance and stop calling them cheats. We can exercise compassion and listen more and stop casting such aspersions. Famed psychologist Abraham Maslow stated in … Continue reading Arming Ourselves For The Day by William Klein
It’s that time of year in school where students are getting short with teachers and vice versa. I’ve been patient, but it’s always good to let your emotions out and own your feelings. Therefore, I’m venting. Random Ramblings on things that irk me: You don’t need an IQ test to see if you’re smart. Just go … Continue reading Think Silly, Be Silly by William Klein
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neal Hurston has a passage that gives the book its title. Janie, her husband Tea Cake and his friend Motorboat are trying to outrun a storm. The raging waters of the lake are rising and the tremulous fear of death has climbed into their skin. She writes: “The wind came … Continue reading Reveling in Life by William Klein
Can a person function in this world without being a hypocrite? Thomas Merton says, “We never see the one truth that would help us begin to solve our ethical and political problems: that we are all more or less wrong, that we are all at fault, all limited and obstructed by our mixed motives, our … Continue reading Hypocrisy by William Klein
