Rev. Danny Fisher

Via Religion Compass Exchange: The Guardian reports on Tadamasa Goto, a leader in the yakuza (Japanese mafia), “who will enter priesthood after falling foul of [his fellow] yakuza leaders for allegedly passing information to the FBI.”

Via Bill over at Digital Dharma: In light of events in Thailand, Forbes‘ Lawrence Osborne asks, “Are Buddhists violent?” He’s got some pretty strong opinions on the matter. Here’s just a taste:

Our popular idea of Buddhism is little better than Madonna’s unhinged vision of the Torah, a “spirituality” gutted of context and complexity. Moreover, Buddhists in America and Europe are mostly middle class and economically comfortable. Theirs is a religion of consumerist choice, individual and private, not one of national inheritance and governance, and their form of Buddhism doesn’t have to get its hands dirty by running an actual state.

The subtle and scholarly religion of Leonard Cohen is pursued as a psychological odyssey, not as a mode of statecraft. The onus of power is absent. A Buddhist politician in Cambodia or Thailand, on the other hand, is sometimes forced to deviate from the nobler precepts of his religion–and one cannot be surprised that they do so.

Your thoughts, reflections, and opinions are most welcome. Bring ‘em on.

Our friend and past interviewee Erick D. White, anthropologist and Thailand scholar, points us a new piece in the New York Times, which you could call a pretty clear and fair assessment of the situation in Thailand right now. Take a look.

This will be my last post from St. Petersburg, FL, where I’m visiting my grandparents before moving back to California.

My mother and I visited Haslam’s Book Store this morning, which has been a favorite shop of mine since early childhood. I’ve always been a bibliophile, and Haslam’s has always seemed a paradise. It’s full of beautiful old books (some of them quite valuable) and the newest works in a wide variety of subjects. Here’s a little bit of history from their website:

Haslam’s was started in 1933 in the Depression by John and Mary Haslam, both avid readers, to provide other readers with used magazines and books at bargain prices. After World War II they were joined by the second generation, Charles and Elizabeth, and the business began to expand. In response to customers’ requests, new technical books were added, then Bibles and religious books and finally a complete line of trade books and a large section for children. The business has moved four times to accommodate the growing number of volumes and customers, and today covers 30,000 square feet with over 300,000 books.

To promote books and reading, Charles had a television program on WEDU, the local PBS station, for 15 years called “The Wonderful World of Books,” and reviewed books on WSUN radio for eight years. He appeared as a regular guest on WTOG-TV. Elizabeth operated book fairs at local schools for 25 years and now conducts “field trip” tours of Florida’s largest book store for elementary classes. Both have been active in the American Bookseller’s Association (Charles was president from 1978 – 1980). They have taught in Bookseller Schools and written chapters in “The Manual of Bookselling.” Both are published authors.

In 1973, the third generation came into the business: daughter Suzanne (who also authored a chapter in the “Manual on Bookselling”) and husband Ray Hinst (history, classics & military expert).

If you’re ever in St. Pete, you really must visit Haslam’s. As far as bookstores go, it’s pretty special.

Incidentally, one of the things that adds to the appeal is the presence of four very friendly cats, including “Teacup,” who is pictured below skipping in front of the Theology section.

My new friend at Sawgrass Lake Park…