spiritual insights on religion, social justice and comparative theology
The great Sufi mystic Rumi was in the throes of a dervish ceremony called a sema; a ritual dance ceremony that he created. A fellow Muslim came to him, knocked on his door and told him it was “time for evening prayer.” Rumi without missing a beat or twirl said, “We are praying.” Every major religion has … Continue reading A Dervish of Prayer by William Klein
The Police wrote a song titled “Rehumanize Yourself.” It was a song written about “people becoming disconnected from their humanity when placed in certain circumstances.” The song was inspired by a real incident. Lead singer and songwriter Sting heard about some skinheads kicking a man to death outside his house. “Policeman put on his uniform/Had … Continue reading Rehumanize Yourself by William Klein
“You are what you desire”. This is a great insight. It is a popular thought in Eastern thinking, particularly in Buddhist thought. This desire creates suffering and if it is not satisfied, the desire is even greater, which more often than not leads to greater discontent. I’m reminded of the old adage, “Chase the world … Continue reading A Daily Reminder For The New Year by William Klein
My foray into service learning has reaped tremendous rewards. I’ve been exposed to the power of intention behind words. St. Francis said, “Teach the gospels and if necessary use words”. Francis knew the power of action to speak louder than words. My sense is that the intention behind the action makes all the difference. I’ve … Continue reading The Gift Of A Kind Intention by William Klein
“Every discord in life is the result of a mental concept entertained in the mind. Always remain above the situation…” Shared by my friend Art Miccio when I was working in business, it’s a quote that I recall every now and then to make sense of my feelings or difficult situations, or when I’m worried … Continue reading “Detachment” by William Klein
As I get ready to return to school, I was thinking about the things I want my students to learn. The most important lesson for me to teach in the first few days is “You’re an expert in your own experience.” The first few nervous days of school when students are trying to find their … Continue reading “You’re An Expert In Your Own Experience”
I was listening to a Q and A with the great theologian and historian Dominic Crossan. A person questioned whether there were texts of Jesus’ birth that didn’t exist. Crossan noted, “nobody was watching… except maybe for a few animals” he added with tongue firmly planted in cheek. I’ve heard this said of another academic … Continue reading “Iconic Moments Revisited” by William Klein
spirit beat 