Confessions of a Cowboy Christian and Practicing Buddhist

Big Bend National Park

Road to Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park

 

Confessions of a Cowboy Christian and Practicing Buddhist

 

Beyond miles and miles of Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert
Criss-crossing the Southwest and Northern Mexico,
Where local folks know how to stand, tall in the saddle, as they say
Across a landscape that seems to go nigh on to forever
Even beyond the Boundlessness of you, O God,
Here imaginations may touch the beauty of all creation
And horizons meet the very edge of eternity.  
 
Here you may see beyond all boundaries
From Terlingua to Tucson,
Marfa to Manhattan, Edna to El Paso
Across vistas of high desert plains,
Mountains, valleys, arroyos,
Streams and rivers merging together.  
 
Where fingers of saguaro cactus
Point upwards in prayer,
While honey and velvet mesquite,
Whitethorn acacia,
Althorn, ocotillo, lechugilla,
Agave and creosote bush
Bow with grace when touched by the breath of
God traveling on windblown currents.  
 
O Lord, let such a landscape echo back
Through each of us,
Expanding our sight, to become a vision
That comes to see heaven reflected
Through your divine made eyes.  
 
May such a vision arise in us all
As it did for Christ and the Buddha
To echo, again and again
As we view heaven
Through divine made eyes.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ron Starbuck


Copyright 2010 and 2020

Heaven    Nirvana   Sunyata    Groundlessness    Openness 

"Might be imagined as a process, indeed the process itself by which in which and through which everything has its being." Chapter 1, Nirvana and God the Transcendent Other from Without Buddha I Could not be a Christian by theologian Paul F. Knitter.

The world arises around us through our relationships across all of creation, we do not exist alone.  In his book, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian, in writing about Thich Nhat Hanh and his thoughts on inter-being, Paul F. Knitter tells us that understanding God through relationships is critical and that the source and power of our relationships is driven by the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

The importance of this concept is summarized by this: "behind and within all the different images and symbols, Christians use for God: Creator, Father (Abba), Redeemer, Word, Spirit, the most fundamental, the deepest truth Christians can speak of God is that God is the source and power of relationships."

Another way to view this, as Paul Knitter explained to me once in a conversation, is that in meditation Buddhism asks us "to let go of all concepts, and to let go and open ourselves radically and utterly to the present moment, and in the trust that this present moment contains all that I need.  This is a setting aside of words and imagery and opening oneself to what St. Paul calls God as Spirit, letting that Spirit make itself (or herself or himself) felt within us, grow within us, to lead us." 

We find this idea beautifully expressed in these two scriptures. The Gospel of John, and in the book of Romans.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. ~ John 14:26-27

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ~ Romans 8:26-27 

There Is Something About Being An Episcopalian

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ The Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer