I learned a thing or two about spirituality early on in life. My siblings and I survived an array of life-threatening illnesses (both physical and mental) while losing several of our family and friends to them along the way. Maybe this is what drew me to religion—not the parts people use to justify violence, racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia, but the parts that beckon us to WAKE UP!, bring us together, bring peace, and give us hope.
I am grateful to religions for giving us the tools of spirituality, such as meditation, yoga, contemplation, prayer, sacred stories, chanting, and singing. These “spiritual technologies” can help us all toward an increasing relationship and/or identification with realities beyond ourselves. This is the definition of spirituality I am working with now, and it can take secular or religious forms, or both.
I currently teach religious studies, philosophy, and meditation at the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC, and I work as a consultant for the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education. I live in Alexandria, VA with three of my gurus: my wife and two daughters.