Howling Spirit: August 2010

Welcome

The Buddha said that his teaching are not to be followed like laws, but to be used as guidelines in finding your own spiritual path. Rabbi Brad Hirschfield explained that if there are aspects of religion that you don't like, return to where you were raised and make the changes from there. If you like the ritual, keep it. If you don't, drop it. True religion is different for everyone. This blog is a reflection of the journey I take to finding my personal spirituality. The basis for my spirituality stems from a cross between Buddhism and Judaism, but also includes bits and pieces from other religious faiths.
As I develop my individual spirituality, I am moving from the life of college student into the workforce. Included will my journey to find a job I truly love (this seems to be rare nowadays), that agrees with my personal ethics of peace and non-violence.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Why It's Good for Jews to Meditate

Here is a great article by Jay Michaelson, the author of Everything is God.
Check it out!

http://zeek.forward.com/articles/116922/

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Interpretations of Abrahams Journey

The Tent of Abraham is an interfaith look at the story of Abraham and his sons Issac and Ishmael. I recently read a section of the book by Rabbi Arthur Waskow who emphasizes the similarities of between the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with the struggles between Issac (the holy son) and Ishmael (the outsider). Rabbi Waskow says:
"Did Mohammed have to die because the Palestinian people were ready to use violence to assert its own control over the very rock where the first Mohammed rose to heaven, flying on the wings of the one God, who has, according to the Quran, made nations and communities diverse so that we could learn from and love each other, not so that we could hate and kill each other?"

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Living In Tune

When asked how things are, don't whine and grumble about your hardships. If you answer "lousy," then God says "You call this bad, I'll show you what bad really is!"
When asked how things are, and despite hardships and suffering, you answer "good," then God says "You call this good, I'll show you what good really is!"

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Work/Experience

I am currently working at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY.

Previously I have worked at Northwind Kennels, been an intern at the International Wolf Center, a volunteer at the New York Wolf Conservation Center, Animal Embassy, and a coyote research project performed by a graduate student at State University of New York - Environmental Science and Forestry.

I was the president of the Student Buddhist Association at Syracuse University from 2009-2010 as well as a member of the Students for Inter-religious Understanding in 2010. I graduated from SUNY-ESF in May of 2010.