Noodles made with reverence. Proper respect paid to them. These are your lives and each is perfectly defined by a single noodle. Everyday Zen practice with a fair helping of nudges and winks.

We review the first posts on Blanket Theory and reprise the wild ride including questionable practice, the Blanket Truth, the Dharma Police, deer paths, a mirror graced with dust, a guide to just sitting, and some guy talking to all the animals at a forest pool. Where will the existential detective’s case lead him next? Everywhere, and nowhere. Which is exactly where we need to be.

A forest pool where many strange and wonderful creatures come to drink. A Zen practitioner with a head in the clouds, full of noise. Where do we find rest? Come on an interfaith journey connecting Christian and Zen Buddhist imagery of our need for a respite from a chaotic and painful world. This journey takes us through scorching desert and bitter tundra. We find the outstretched hand of God rescuing us, or compassion waiting in our very being. Because of this compassionate outstretched hand, we can let go and be guided home, like one of the strange creatures drinking their fill at the pool. We acknowledge the suffering of many for many reasons, including depression. But, we see that, even if our practice falters, faith and no-faith can also be beautiful creatures guiding us home. Clinging to neither, treating them with a light hand the possibility is there to be the pool. Join me for a swim?

What is perhaps the deepest connection between Buddhism and Christianity? Compassion in Buddhism, grace in Christianity are two sides of a coin we will explore in this post. This interfaith dialogue explores how these grace and compassion are available to all of us. While being free, they still call us to deepen our practice, in ourselves but also amongst our communities and those beyond.