David Jones is a retiree after an enjoyable 35-year career with the American government. Diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, he works through things by sitting with the breath and other meditation techniques. David writes about mental health and enjoys exploring the intersection of Abrahamic religion and Buddhist teachings. Scary movies, reading, writing and helping folks as they walk along their paths are among his most favorite things. He dearly loves his wife, their five children, and all their grandchildren. And yes, he’s aware that he’s weird.
A Buddhist that Chose to Fight
By David Jones When I became old enough to be drafted, I quickly filed a Conscientious Objector form. I believed war and killing were against the message Jesus brought to us, and at the time I felt ready to go to jail if the alternative was to go to battle. I...
Killing Our Attachments
By David Jones Let's take a brief look into two verses from the Dhammapada. I call my process The 3 Pass Method. The first pass is reading the text just to focus on the writer's words. The second pass involves our research to figure out what the writer meant at...
What My Teacher Taught Me: Dreams as Teachers {series}
By David Jones So I had a teaching dream, and it was my waking self's job to suss out the lesson it contained. I know some folks dismiss dreams and their interpretations as complete bunk. But in my experience, even if breathing water sounds ridiculous to a...
Thich Nhat Hanh Taught Me We are All Waves in the Ocean
By David Jones It was a busy work day, trying to fill requests for records from folks who want to come to the US. It's an honor to help others in their quest, and even with all the agitation we have in this country, people still want to come. Then my phone...
8 Lessons Hanukkah Teaches Us Right Now
By David Jones Hanukkah, like all human holy days and traditional observances, has a rich backstory and plenty of historical meaning. You can find plenty to read online. It's a religious festival of a religious people, but it doesn't have to remain a...
Another Look at the Dragon King’s Daughter
By David Jones As I try to accumulate wisdom from the many Wisdom Traditions, I have a strategy for tackling texts. I try to honor the words as well as the writer first by simply meeting the words where they are. Once I think I've got that, then I try to start...
Are Zen Practitioners Atheist?
By David Jones Is Zen an Atheistic Practice? This question could also be phrased, "Do I have to be an Atheist to practice Zen?" or "Will practicing Zen turn me into an Atheist?" Zen isn't something that just overwrites your personality or replaces your...
How to Forgive Those Who Hurt Us
By David Jones Has someone ever hurt you? I've hurt others and been hurt by others, and since we focus on the pain, we may not recognize how to start healing. A primary component in healing from the hurt others cause is forgiveness. Before we start, a few...
Praying for Resolution: The Violence in Israel
By David Jones There's renewed violence in Israel, and I've joined millions who are somehow both outraged and too fatigued to get terribly upset. The news breaks it down for me, and I nod absently. I stare blankly at the numbers of dead. How many were just...
The Yin and Yang of Shalom
By David Jones Shalom is a wonderful Hebrew word, having more meaning than we usually get in our "rapid definitions" world. We don't abide with language like we should. Language is sacred. We usually translate shalom as peace, because modern usage and...