Go_to_gaia_btn
Mygaia_btn
Comm_home_btn
Gaia_mail_btn
Remember me
Powered by Zaadz
myGaia

Joel : . Joel's Blog

Musings from Buffalo, Contemplating the Course of Rivers

Posted on Jul 21st, 2008 by Joel : . Joel

Sun, clouds, rain and 20 years out of high school and the circuitous life streams merge into one. My applications to Ben Gurion and Sackler were denied. There is more here to do. I am retaking the MCAT in December, this time with renewed vigor and determination.

Maj once wrote to me in a letter, "Contemplation alters the course of rivers." From this human perspective, I create my path in any direction I choose. To allow this to unfold of its own course is the highest wisdom, so that the observer and the Way become One, and that One way is G-d's way for me. To relinquish my agenda opens G-d's Will before me. This makes all things possible, unknown and possible. 

Here, now.

Space, time.

The spaceless, the timeless.

All here, now.

Eternity is revealed in the breath and pieced in the song of birds. God's love is all of this: pain, sorrow, loss, glory, life, and the world. From the Heart Sutra: "form is emptienss and emptiness form." God alone Is. So, what are we? What am I?

Nothing... it is but a gift...


 

Access_public Access: Public 1 Comment Print Send views (111)  

An Interview with Author Kerri Kannan for Unraveling Religion

Posted on Jul 2nd, 2008 by Joel : . Joel

Kerri Kannan lives in upstate, NY with her two beautiful daughters.  She is a motivational speaker, self-love mentor and the author of the book, Uncovering the Divine Within - A Journey of Self-Love. Kerri is also the creator of the 30 day Love your Body and Love Your Life Transformation programs and has been host of her own internet radio program. You can order her book at http://www.innercirclepublishing.com/ or contact her directly by visiting her website at http://www.divinewithin.com/  

We had a wonderful time reconnecting with Kerri, the show was an exploration and discussion of Who We Are and was interspersed with Rumi poems relating to the discussion. Kerri had interviewed me in January on her podcast on Aware!'s Uncovering the Divine Within. This time it was my turn and the discussion was terrific. So, gassho to you Kerri, and thanks again.

The next Unraveling Religion show is scheduled for July 15th, 2008 and we are in talks with our next guest for the show. Confirmation will come soon.


Namaste....


Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (83)  

An Interview with Kyoki from the Zen Center of Pittsburg

Posted on Jun 15th, 2008 by Joel : . Joel
I am very happy to annouce confirmation of the fourth installment of Unraveling Religion. Kyoki is the resident priest at the Zen Center of Pittsburg and will be interviewed this Wednesday, June 18th, 2008. The show should be posted to the Internet by 9pm. The Zen Center of Pittburg was founded in 1999.

Rev. Kyoki Roberts is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and is a founding member of the Order of the Prairie Wind (OPW). She is the senior ordained student of Rev. Nonin Chowaney, Head Priest of Heartland Temple and OPW. She has trained at Hokyoji Monastery in Minnesota, San Francisco Zen Center and Green Gulch Farm in California, and Zuioji and Shogoji monasteries in Japan. Kyoki received Dharma Transmission from Rev. Nonin Chowaney, OPW in June 2001. She was appointed to serve as Deep Spring Temple's first Head Priest. She serves on the Board of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association, and the Program Committee of the American Zen Teachers Association.


Also... Bronc rider, cow puncher, cornhusking queen of Nebraska, grower of cornchips and tofu blocks, long distance walker, loves to sing but can't carry a tune, driver of combines and kittycats, plays in dirt and ain't a half-bad camp cook.


Listen...
Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (109)  

Jerusalem Poems: The Hashem Collection

Posted on Jun 9th, 2008 by Joel : . Joel
I.

Hashem,
Light of lights,
Empties Himself,
Always,
Is, to each, Is
And beyond.
The unnameable
Source.

II.

Multiple orders, universes,
A multiplicity of worlds,
Outside -
The fitness of His Majesty
Inside

III.

I dream
Up
These simple things
A man,
And what is that?
Who dreams?
What I?

IV.

Day, today,
Song of Creation –
Created, creating,
There is nothing to know,
Nowhere to go, and
Nothing to do.

V.

Adonai,
My Lord,
A solemn prayer,
Inward or
Out
A desire to serve,
The Giver of gifts.

VI.

Jerusalem is here,
And freedom from thought
How may I return
To the place I have
Never left.

VII.

There only is
God.
Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (39)  
Tagged with: new poem, G-d, Jersualem

Update For The Next Three Shows

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by Joel : . Joel
We have been in talks with a Jewish Kabbalist, a teacher and Abbott of a Zen Center (Soto sect), and Reverend of the Unity Church.

The next three shows promise to be very captivating. If any listeners have relavent and geniune questions that would like answered, please email me at joel.lesses@gmail.com and I will ask our guests.

I will keep you posted when the shows are confirmed.
Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (124)  

Unraveling Religion: An Interview With Chris Barbera

Posted on Mar 26th, 2008 by Joel : . Joel
I wanted to introduce a very special dialogue to you.  It is the third installment of Unraveling Religion. Yesterday, it was my honor to interview Chris Barbera on Unraveling Religion. Our talk was very special and important, I hope you will listen: Joel Lesses interviews Chris Barbera, a man who sees spirituality as non-violent service to the poor. He currently is the Academic Dean at Jesus the Liberator Seminary, which provides the theological education for prisoners throughout the United States.  

http://www.thinktwiceradio.com/
 

 
Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (175)  

Unraveling Religion: An Interview with Anjali Kumar

Posted on Feb 29th, 2008 by Joel : . Joel

Thinktwice Radio's Unraveling Religion had its second installment on February 28th, 2008. The show's theme was The Interconnection of World Teachings and was an interview with Anjali Kumar, a Yoga instructor from Maryland who has studied many different world religions and teachings. The show can be found at www.thinktwiceradio.com and click on the Unraveling Religion link and one can find it there.

Anjali was a wondeful guest who provided a great deal of terrain regarding the similiarities of different world religions, explicated in a simple and direct format and spoke about the global differences of our preceptions of spirituality and God.


Any feedback, please contact me, Joel at joel.lesses@gmail.com


Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (203)  

The Jim Pray Show

Posted on Jan 9th, 2008 by Joel : . Joel
I was interviewed on the Jim Pray Show. This is an interview and conversation about many aspects and dimensions of what it is to being a human being with questions about spirituality, God, and people in pain. The link is www.hotftv.net and the section is Thinktwice Radio and select the Jim Pray Show.
Access_public Access: Public 2 Comments Print Send views (196)  

Ocean Moon and Time

Posted on Dec 27th, 2007 by Joel : . Joel
Yosemite
Streams, river, rain and Oceans -
What is the measure of time:
Child to boy to man?
These things
unfurl
as a
cherry-
blossom.

Innocence
to knowing
to wisdom.

How may I measure
my own life?
By what means
shall I judge?

In silence,
The Ocean moon
glistens.
Access_public Access: Public 2 Comments Print Send views (151)  

Aware Radio Show - January 3rd, 2008

Posted on Dec 26th, 2007 by Joel : . Joel
Kerri Kannan interviews Joel David Lesses - A writer, poet, and counselor, Joel has studied many different world teachings and religions regarding spirituality both in America and Israel. Born to a Irish Catholic mother and Jewish father, he has come to find his place with American Zen Buddhism. After suffering difficulties at the hands of a sociopath, he came to deeply question, “What is the matter with me?” which led to an awakening experience and subsequent integration.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aware/2008/01/04/Uncovering-the-Divine-Within
Access_public Access: Public What do you think? Print Send views (106)  
Page 1 of 3123
Showing 1 - 10 of 26 Results

Our Sponsors

Got feedback?

Sponsor us!