James Ishmael Ford
@jamesishmaelford.bsky.social
Writer. Buddhism, Mahayana, Zen most of all. Christianity. Mystical traditions. Unitarian Universalism. Interfaith dialogue.
jamesiford.substack.com
https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Ishmael-Ford/author/B001JSACF0
jamesiford.substack.com
https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Ishmael-Ford/author/B001JSACF0
On Lacing One's Shoes
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
On Lacing One's Shoes
A moment bent to grace.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:59 PM
On Lacing One's Shoes
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
A Way of Zen: Five Books, Plus One
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
A Way of Zen: Five Books, Plus One
James Ishmael Ford's small introduction to Zen library
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A Way of Zen: Five Books, Plus One
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Life After Death
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Life After Death
A look at some statistics
open.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Life After Death
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
worth a read www.patheos.com/blogs/therel...
This Is A Third Great Awakening?
I've seen claims lately that a Third Great Awakening is happening now. I'm skeptical, but let's take a look. What is a Great Awakening? The Great
www.patheos.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
worth a read www.patheos.com/blogs/therel...
Returning from the One
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Returning from the One
Reflecting on a koan and Zen's path of awakening
open.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Returning from the One
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Is Christian Mysticism Dualistic?
www.carlmccolman.net/p/is-christi...
www.carlmccolman.net/p/is-christi...
Is Christian Mysticism Dualistic?
Nonduality and Theism in Western Contemplative Practice
www.carlmccolman.net
September 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Is Christian Mysticism Dualistic?
www.carlmccolman.net/p/is-christi...
www.carlmccolman.net/p/is-christi...
ONE BIG SOUL
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
ONE BIG SOUL
Finding Our Way in Troubled Times
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM
ONE BIG SOUL
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Considering what meditation is in Zen. Samadhi of the Eightfold Path open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Samadhi of the Eightfold Path
Opening into the way
open.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Considering what meditation is in Zen. Samadhi of the Eightfold Path open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
A conversation about Zen After Religion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vSR...
Exploring Zen at the End of Religion - Daizan interviews James Myoun Ford Roshi
YouTube video by Zenways
www.youtube.com
August 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A conversation about Zen After Religion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vSR...
Giving the Hebrew Scriptures a Nondual Read
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Giving the Hebrew Scriptures a Nondual Read
Hermeneutics as a spiritual practice
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Giving the Hebrew Scriptures a Nondual Read
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
Tomorrow, Sunday, I will be offering my penultimate talk on my Zen at the End of Religion tour at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Santa Barbara at 10am. Copies of my latest book will be on sale as a mini-fundraiser for the church. ussb.org
Home - Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara
ussb.org
July 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Tomorrow, Sunday, I will be offering my penultimate talk on my Zen at the End of Religion tour at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Santa Barbara at 10am. Copies of my latest book will be on sale as a mini-fundraiser for the church. ussb.org
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." If Mark Twain didn't say this, he should have...
July 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." If Mark Twain didn't say this, he should have...
Meanwhile, in Russia... www.buddhistdoor.net/news/buddhis...
Buddhist Leader in Russia Sentenced to Eight Years for Anti-War Post, Citing Religious Convictions - Buddhistdoor Global
Zen practitioner Ilya Vasilyev jailed in Moscow after calling for peace in Ukraine, citing Buddhist ethics.
www.buddhistdoor.net
July 10, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Meanwhile, in Russia... www.buddhistdoor.net/news/buddhis...
I asked ChatGPT to Compare Trumpism/MAGA to Fascism
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
I asked ChatGPT to Compare Trumpism/MAGA to Fascism
It's answer is not comforting...
open.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I asked ChatGPT to Compare Trumpism/MAGA to Fascism
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
open.substack.com/pub/jamesifo...
A Meditation on Ministry
A Meditation on Ministry
Thoughts generated by an anniversary
open.substack.com
July 5, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A Meditation on Ministry
If you need to pause in this ocean of activity and turn the light inward for a couple of hours, you are welcome to join our Empty Moon half day sit tomorrow, Saturday, July the 5th.
Free and open to all of good will.
Our Zoom address is 843 8491 4751
www.emptymoonzen.org/affiliated-g...
Free and open to all of good will.
Our Zoom address is 843 8491 4751
www.emptymoonzen.org/affiliated-g...
Empty Moon Zen Online Sangha – Empty Moon Zen
www.emptymoonzen.org
July 4, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If you need to pause in this ocean of activity and turn the light inward for a couple of hours, you are welcome to join our Empty Moon half day sit tomorrow, Saturday, July the 5th.
Free and open to all of good will.
Our Zoom address is 843 8491 4751
www.emptymoonzen.org/affiliated-g...
Free and open to all of good will.
Our Zoom address is 843 8491 4751
www.emptymoonzen.org/affiliated-g...
Photos show a celebration for the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday
Photos show a celebration for the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday
DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama attended a celebration of his 90th birthday according to the Tibetan calendar.
apnews.com
June 30, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Photos show a celebration for the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television’s most honored journalists, has died at 91.
apnews.com
June 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91
Like the meat inside a pecan shell
Like the meat inside a pecan shell
Recalling a six week intensive with Zen Master Willigis Jäeger
open.substack.com
June 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Like the meat inside a pecan shell
Who was Olga, the Alaska Native drawing devotion as Orthodoxy's new saint?
Who was Olga, the Alaska Native drawing devotion as Orthodoxy's new saint?
The first female Orthodox saint in North America was an Indigenous woman who spent her entire life with her Yup'ik family and neighbors in a village in southwest Alaska.
apnews.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Who was Olga, the Alaska Native drawing devotion as Orthodoxy's new saint?
Between One and Ten: A meditation on what Enlightenment means in Zen
Between One and Ten
Blue Cliff Record, Case 11 Book of Equanimity, Case 53
open.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Between One and Ten: A meditation on what Enlightenment means in Zen
new at Patheos. www.patheos.com/blogs/monkey...
Faith And The Awakened Heart
After belief falls away? After faith falls away? What does it mean to step away from the hundred foot pole?
www.patheos.com
June 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
new at Patheos. www.patheos.com/blogs/monkey...