Ep. 591 – The Intimate Way of Zen with James Ishmael Ford, Zen Buddhist Priest & Ordained Minister

Discussing his new book, The Intimate Way of Zen, Nondual spiritualist James Ishmael Ford joins Raghu for an exploration of our relationship to all things. 

This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and James explore:

• James’ upbringing and how his maternal grandmother was the spiritual orientation for his family
• Having an intimate relationship with all things
• The goal of discovering what this life truly is 
• Spiritual friendship which is deep, profound, and life-changing 
• Unconditional love and considering our judgment of others 
• Trying to see others as trees, as Ram Dass taught 
• Combining Bhakti Yoga with the wisdom of Buddhism 
• Flirting with nihilism, cynicism, and new-ageism  
• Exploring the work of Carl Jung and James Hillman
• The resurgence of psychedelics in today’s culture 
• The many paths and doorways into enlightenment 

Check out the books referenced in this episode: Zen at the End of Religion, If You're Lucky Your Heart Will Break, and of course, The Intimate Way of Zen. 

About James Ishmael Ford, Zen Buddhist Priest & Ordained Minister:

James has walked the​ spiritual path for more than fifty years. He's danced with Sufis, studied with Christian mystics, lived in Buddhist monasteries, and eventually was ordained a Zen priest. Later, he was also ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister. James' path has taken him to a life "between" several traditions, bringing him into a nondual spirituality. Trying to unpack what that actually means in his life, and with a tip of the hat to Erasmus, James claims a physiology of faith; a Buddhist brain, a Christian heart, and a rationalist stomach. You can learn more about James on his website and keep up with his most recent project, the Unanswered Question Newsletter, HERE.

“For me, the goal is to find 'what is'. I originally framed it as 'Is there a God?’ I realized I had the question wrong, and at some point it was 'what is God?'. Today, I would say, 'what is this?'” – James Ishmael Ford

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