Stopping Slamming Doors

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary for August 6, 2017

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Dear Folks -

The title I gave to the talk I offered this week was:

Stopping Slamming Doors

I took the phrase from a conversation that took place between Thich Nhat Hanh and Thomas Merton. Merton had asked the Buddhist monk about how they taught meditation practices to the young monks in their care, Thich Nhat Hanh said, “We don’t teach meditation practices to the young monks until they stop slamming doors."

Not slamming doors is a good metaphor for how we are growing in our ability to be non-reactive. If we live our lives, especially our “religious” lives, at a dualistic level, slamming doors can be almost automatic. The teaching from the Gospel of Thomas this talk is based on is easy to slam the door on.

Consequently, I spent time in this talk amplifying on the various definitions and meanings of the word “faith” and, also, of the work of Stephen Mitchell in helping us understand what shaped the message of Jesus to be one of inclusion and forgiveness.

The audio version of  the talk is significantly different from the text from which I spoke.

You can read the text from which I spoke, find the presentation slides and the audio version of the talk using the links below.

If you are reading this, I want you to know how grateful I am for and to you.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

To read or download the text of the talk, click here.

To view the presentation slides, click here.

To listen to or download the audio version of the talk, use the link below.