Rev. Danny Fisher

The author in a state of hibernation.

In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve not been conforming to the “new format” of the blog for quite some time, let alone posting much at all. This is due to a combination of factors, including an overwhelming schedule and some unforeseen personal business. It’s also due to some bits of news that will once again change how we do things here at dannyfisher.org.

First, as you may have read, the astounding Adam Tebbe at Sweeping Zen and I are now regularly blogging for Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly Online as Digital News Contributors. Pretty much all of my “Buddhist news” content will appear there from now on (and also via my Twitter feed @RevDannyFisher). Keep an eye over there — Adam and I will be doing our part to help the Shambhala Sun Foundation team bring you all the need-to-know news of the Buddhist world.

Second, I’ve also joined the new team of Buddhist bloggers over at Patheos! I’m honored to be in the company of friends and admired colleagues: Roshi James Ishmael Ford, Justin Whitaker, and Dosho Port. I’ve done my first post, and have more on the way. The new space will be home to what was the “Buddhist Studies” section of this website. Rather than a podcast, though, I’ll do a series of short videos about the Robinson/Johnson/Thanissaro book that I was previously walking listeners through. I think this will be good for several reasons, not the least of which is that it will force me to keep things pithy! Your questions and comments there will, of course, be most welcome. So please keep an eye on www.patheos.com/blogs/dannyfisher/.

As for this space, I think it will become more like a traditional website, with posts used mostly to point you in the direction of work I’m doing elsewhere (like some of the last few posts). I do hope to continue posting occasional video dharma talks and urgent actions here as well. In addition, there will always be other material to post that won’t fit anywhere else. So please don’t take us out of your bookmarks just yet!

I feel quite fortunate to be asked to contribute to larger efforts elsewhere — I’m really a very lucky guy — but I also want to take good care of this space. It’s been really important to me in my own growth and development, in large part because of the connections it has created with readers like you. Though pieces of it are now going elsewhere, you can always find me here. I hope that together we can keep talking and sharing and growing here. I don’t say it enough to those of you who are reading, and now seems like a good time: thank you.

(L-R) The author and Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne at University of the West, Rosemead, CA, October 31st, 2007. Photo by Julia Stenzel.

I can’t quite believe I get to write the title of this post. Honestly: my life is pretty amazing sometimes.

I hope you will take a moment to read my short interview with engaged Buddhist icon, Sarvodaya Shramadana leader, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and hero of mine Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne at Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly Online. You’ll learn things. I promise. I did.

(L-R) Jack Kornfield, Jane McGonigal, Ethan Nichtern, and the author at Buddhist Geeks | The Conference, University of the West, Rosemead, CA, July 30th, 2011. Photo by Linda Hayward.

I’m very proud to be one of the initial signers of an open letter from Buddhist and yoga teachers and leaders in support of the Occupy Movement. You can read the letter and see the initial signers here. The authors are our friend Ethan Nichtern (see above) and yoga teacher Michael Stone.

If you’re a Buddhist or yoga teacher/leader, you can sign on at http://occupysamsara.org (and I hope you will.)

In addition, you can read about my participation in the Global Day of Action for Occupy Wall Street, and watch a video of my dharma talk written for Occupy LA, here.

At an opening weekend screening of Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" at the ArcLight Hollywood, Hollywood, CA, May 28th, 2011. Photo by the author.

The Tree of Life, this year’s Palme d’Or winner from reclusive American auteur Terrence Malick, is the most extraordinary and moving experience I’ve had at the movies in my whole life. Would that every film were this ambitious and deeply felt! That said, it’s decidedly not everyone’s cup of tea. For me, though, as one who made the final decision to leave film studies as an undergraduate after encountering Mr. Malick’s other works — “I can’t make better films than that,” I thought. “And he’s saying and doing the things I’d want to say or do with the medium, as well as things I didn’t realize I would want said or done with the medium. I have a spiritual and aesthetic kinship with this man.” — it’s very much my cup of tea.

I’ve reviewed the film (as well as all of Mr. Malick’s other films in a way) for The Journal of Religion and Film. I hope you’ll take a look. Most of all, though, I hope you will see the film…